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UCI Opens Formal Call on Cycling Airbags and Protective Clothing as 2026 Safety Drive Intensifies

May 19, 2026
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The UCI is stepping up rider safety with a new call for innovation: it wants manufacturers and research institutes to help fast-track airbags and advanced protective apparel for road cycling without rushing into mandatory rules before clear standards exist.

​The Union Cycliste Internationale has launched a formal call for expressions of interest to accelerate the development of protective equipment for riders, with a specific focus on airbag systems and advanced technical apparel.

Protective gear for cyclists

​The initiative was approved at the UCI Management Committee meeting held on 29 and 30 January in Beveren, Belgium, and forms part of the broader SafeR framework overseeing safety in men’s and women’s road cycling. The deadline for manufacturers and research institutes to respond is 15 March 2026, with dedicated working groups set to convene later this year.

UCI Headquarters

​The UCI is not introducing immediate rule changes or mandating airbags in competition. Instead, it is seeking to define clear performance standards and regulatory pathways before such systems are adopted widely.

​The call focuses on two areas: standalone airbag systems designed for competition and training, and the integration of protective solutions into technical clothing and textiles.

​Cycling presents unique challenges. Any system must function across varied crash scenarios, weather conditions, rider positions and disciplines, while avoiding false deployments or performance compromises.

Integration, reliability and practicality remain central concerns for teams and sponsors.

​The airbag initiative sits alongside a wider safety push that includes standardized course signage, behavioral enforcement through the yellow card system, and ongoing engineering research projects.

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