'Scrap the 6.8kg limit'

Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio explains why the UCI's 6.8kg bike weight rule is unfair to smaller riders

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The UCI weight-limit rule, which says bikes used in competition must weigh a minimum of 6.8kg, was intended to ensure rider safety. However, in practice, it disproportionately affects smaller riders, particularly women.

I don't know the rule's official origin, but my theory is that the men's peloton was the reference point when the limit was set back in 2000. Back then, I'd guess the average weight of a male professional was around 68kg, and someone decided the bike should weigh roughly 10% of that. The problem is, this thinking is completely outdated.

The rule has been in place for the entirety of my professional career, which spans over 18 years. Since then, the bike industry has evolved dramatically, constantly pushing boundaries and innovating, yet the UCI's rules and mindset haven't kept pace. For someone like me, with an engineering background, that contradiction is especially frustrating.