Watch out, Pogačar – the UCI has a new tyre checking tool 

The UCI has introduced a new tool to measure the height of a tyre’s sidewall to ensure setups remain within the maximum 700mm diameter permitted tyre-and-rim combination.

The 3D-printed tool slots over the top of the tyre, allowing a visual check to confirm the sidewall sits within the permitted bounds.

This enables commissaires to quickly check wheels without needing to measure the full diameter, which would be impractical before a race.

• Read more: The 4 Paris-Roubaix tyre tech trends you need to know about – what’s in, what’s out, and what’s controversial

Typical tyre widths in most road races are unlikely to approach the 700mm limit, but the trend towards wider setups at Roubaix means some riders could get close. 

For example, Tadej Pogačar, is running a 35mm Continental GP 5000 S TR tyre on the front of his Colnago Y1RS that measures around 38mm when mounted.

• Read more: Pogačar will race Paris-Roubaix on enormous 38mm-wide tyres and a 1x drivetrain – but no tubeless inserts

For context, a 40mm tyre will generally sit outside the 700mm limit.

We’re confident Pog’s team will have gone to great length to ensure his tyres are compliant, but the setup is likely to be close to the limit.

A commissaire told BikeRadar the tool is brand new. Details are not currently listed on the UCI’s approved tools register, nor is it available via its library of 3D-printed models.

BikeRadar has contacted the UCI for further details.