Cycling (UCI) Rules Explained

🚨 Cardinal Rule— Serious violation — may trigger retaliation or social exclusion

Do not attack a GC rival immediately after a crash or mechanical⚡ ContestedProfessional play
— When a race leader or GC contender suffers a crash or serious mechanical failure, rivals are expected to wait or slow down rather than seize the advantage. This 'gentlemen's agreement' is one of cycling's most revered traditions. Notable examples include Vingegaard waiting for Pogacar (2021 Tour) and Pogacar returning the favor (2022 Tour).(Applies primarily to stage race GC racing. Considerably less observed in one-day classics, which are widely regarded as 'anything goes' affairs.)[1]
Domestiques sacrifice their own race entirely for the team leaderProfessional play
— Support riders are expected to surrender their wheel, their water bottles, their protected position, and all competitive ambition to serve the team's designated leader. A domestique who prioritizes personal results over the captain's needs violates the deepest code of professional team cycling.

Section 1: Introduction

1.1 Overview and History

Cycling has been an Olympic sport since the first modern Games in Athens in 1896, making it one of only five sports contested at every Summer Olympics. The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), founded in Paris on April 14, 1900, is the world governing body for all competitive cycling disciplines. The UCI headquarters are located in Aigle, Switzerland, and the organization oversees regulations for over 190 national federations worldwide.

1.2 Disciplines

The UCI governs six major competitive disciplines, each with distinct formats, equipment, and tactical considerations:

Road Cycling: Road race and individual time trial, contested on public roads. The cornerstone of professional cycling, featuring Grand Tours (Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, Vuelta a Espana) and one-day Monuments.
Track Cycling: Sprint, team sprint, keirin, team pursuit, madison, omnium, and individual pursuit, contested on a banked velodrome.
BMX Racing: Gate-start racing on a purpose-built dirt track with jumps and berms. Added to the Olympic programme in 2008.
BMX Freestyle: Park-based freestyle competition judged on trick difficulty, execution, and creativity. Debuted at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Mountain Bike (MTB): Cross-country Olympic (XCO), cross-country marathon (XCM), downhill (DHI), and short track (XCC). XCO has been Olympic since 1996.
Cyclocross: Off-road racing on mixed terrain circuits during the autumn/winter season, governed under Part 5 of the UCI Regulations.

1.3 UCI WorldTour Structure

The UCI WorldTour is the highest tier of professional road cycling. WorldTour teams (18 teams) receive automatic entry to all WorldTour races. Teams are ranked via the UCI ranking system, and the bottom-ranked WorldTour teams face relegation to ProTeam status at the end of each three-year licence cycle. The tier structure includes WorldTour, ProTeam, and Continental teams, with promotion and relegation based on accumulated UCI points.

Section 2: Equipment

2.1 Road Bicycle Specifications

Minimum weight: 6.8 kg (15.0 lb) complete with all accessories. Applies to all road disciplines. Enforced by pre-race and post-race weighing by commissaires.
Frame geometry: Must conform to the UCI double-triangle design. The frame must be built around a main triangle (top tube, seat tube, down tube) and rear triangle. Maximum frame width of 8 cm at any point. Seat tube angle between 68 and 82 degrees.
Saddle position: The tip of the saddle must be at least 5 cm behind the bottom bracket vertical. Saddle must be roughly horizontal (nose may be inclined between 0 and 9 degrees downward).
Wheel specifications (road race): Maximum rim depth of 80 mm. Spoked wheels required for mass-start road races. Wheel diameter between 55 cm and 70 cm including tyre.
Wheel specifications (time trial): Disc wheel permitted on the rear only. Tri-spoke or deep-section front wheel permitted. Full disc front wheel prohibited for safety (crosswind instability).
Handlebar extensions: Aero bars (clip-on time trial extensions) are prohibited in mass-start road races. Permitted only in individual and team time trials. Extensions must not project beyond the front axle.
UCI Type Approval: All frames and forks used in UCI-sanctioned events must hold current UCI Type Approval certification. Frames are tested for safety, dimensions, and compliance with the equipment regulations.

2.2 Track Bicycle Specifications

Drivetrain: Fixed gear mandatory — no freewheel mechanism. No brakes permitted. Gear ratio is unrestricted for elite competition.
Minimum weight: 6.8 kg (15.0 lb), same as road.
Wheels: Disc rear wheel permitted in all track events. Front disc wheel permitted only in individual and team pursuit, team sprint, and 1 km/500 m time trial. Tri-spoke or five-spoke front wheels permitted in sprint and keirin.
Handlebars: Drop bars mandatory for sprint, keirin, madison, omnium scratch/elimination/points races. Pursuit bars (with extensions) permitted in individual pursuit, team pursuit, and flying lap events.

2.3 BMX Bicycle Specifications

BMX Racing: 20-inch wheels, single-speed drivetrain. No minimum weight restriction. Maximum crank length of 180 mm. Handlebar width unrestricted. Rear brake only (front brake optional but rarely used).
BMX Freestyle: 20-inch wheels. Pegs permitted on front and rear axles. Gyro (detangler) braking system common to allow 360-degree handlebar rotation. Frame geometry optimised for aerial tricks rather than straight-line speed.

2.4 Mountain Bike Specifications

Wheel size: 29-inch (700c) is standard for XCO. 27.5-inch permitted. Wheel diameter must be between 55 cm and 74 cm including tyre.
Suspension: Front suspension fork standard. Full suspension (front and rear) permitted and increasingly common. No minimum or maximum travel restriction for XCO.
Dropper seatpost: Permitted in all MTB disciplines.
Minimum weight: No minimum weight restriction for mountain bikes, unlike road and track.

2.5 Helmets and Apparel

Helmet: Mandatory in all UCI-sanctioned events across every discipline. Must carry a valid safety certification (EN 1078, CPSC, or equivalent).
Road/Track helmets: Aero helmets with rear extension permitted. Visor helmets permitted in time trials. Traditional vented helmets required for mass-start road events in some race categories.
BMX Racing: Full-face helmet mandatory. Must meet DH/BMX safety certification.
Sock height regulation: Socks must not extend above the mid-point between the ankle and the knee. This rule was introduced to prevent aero-optimised leg coverings being disguised as socks.
Skinsuit: Must not modify the natural silhouette of the rider. No protruding or surface-roughening elements. National or trade team colours required.

Section 3: Playing Area

3.1 Road Course Specifications

Road Race: Contested on public roads, either point-to-point or circuit-based. Olympic distance: 230–240 km (143–149 mi) for men, 130–140 km (81–87 mi) for women. WorldTour one-day races typically range from 200 to 300 km.
Individual Time Trial: 30–40 km (19–25 mi) for men, 25–35 km (16–22 mi) for women at the Olympics. Grand Tour time trials typically 20–60 km. Riders start at intervals of 90 seconds (minimum 60 seconds).
Team Time Trial: 20–60 km, teams of 6–8 riders. Team time taken on the 4th rider crossing the finish line (for 6-rider teams) or 5th rider (for 8-rider teams).
Stage Races: Grand Tours consist of 21 stages over 23 days (2 rest days). Total distance approximately 3,300–3,500 km. Stages include flat, hilly, mountain, individual time trial, and team time trial formats.
Feed zones: Designated areas where team personnel hand musettes (food bags) to riders. Typically positioned at specific kilometre markers. Feeding is prohibited in the first 30 km and last 20 km of a road race stage.

3.2 Track (Velodrome) Specifications

Olympic standard: 250 m banked oval, the standard for all Olympic and World Championship events. Banking angle typically 42–45 degrees in the turns and 12–14 degrees on the straights.
Surface: Wooden (Siberian pine or African afzelia preferred) or synthetic surface. Wooden tracks are faster and preferred for international competition.
Markings: Black measurement line (datum line) at the inner edge. Red sprinter's line 85 cm from the inner edge. Blue stayer's line approximately 250 cm from the inner edge (used in madison and points race). The pursuit start/finish lines are marked on opposite sides of the track.
Other velodrome sizes: 200 m, 333.33 m, and 400 m tracks exist but are not used for Olympic or World Championship events.

3.3 BMX Course Specifications

BMX Racing track: 300–400 m (984–1,312 ft) in length. Starting hill height of 8 m (26 ft) with a drop ramp angled at approximately 28–35 degrees. Course features include rollers, tabletops, step-ups, step-downs, doubles, triples, rhythm sections, and banked turns (berms). Width of at least 10 m at the starting gate, narrowing to 5 m minimum on the course.
BMX Freestyle Park: Purpose-built park course featuring bowls, quarter-pipes, half-pipes, spines, hips, walls, and platform features. Minimum riding area of 1,000 m². Design must allow for continuous flow and varied trick opportunities. Surface typically smooth concrete or wooden composite.

3.4 Mountain Bike Course Specifications

XCO (Cross-Country Olympic): Lap circuit of 4–6 km in length. Total race duration targeted at 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes (men) and 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes (women). Number of laps adjusted based on lap time. Elevation gain typically 100–200 m per lap. Mix of singletrack, fire roads, technical rock gardens, root sections, and short climbs.
XCC (Short Track): Circuit of 500–1,000 m. Race duration approximately 20–25 minutes. Spectator-friendly format with tight, fast laps.
Downhill (DHI): Point-to-point course, 1.5–3.5 km in length. Vertical drop of 400–800 m. Individual timed runs; fastest time wins. Course features include rock gardens, drops, jumps, and high-speed sections.

Section 4: Players & Officials

4.1 Road Team Composition

Grand Tours: 8 riders per team. Each rider has a designated role: general classification (GC) leader, sprinter, domestique (support rider), climber, rouleur (flat specialist), or road captain.
One-day races: Typically 7 riders per team in WorldTour events. Smaller teams (4–6) in lower-category races.
Team roles: Domestiques protect the team leader from wind, chase breakaways, fetch water bottles, and pace the leader on climbs. Lead-out trains are multi-rider formations that deliver the sprinter to the final 200 m at maximum speed.
Directeur sportif: The team manager who follows the race in a team car, communicating tactics via radio to riders. Radio communication has been a subject of debate, with some races (e.g., certain Classics) trialing radio-free racing.

4.2 Track, BMX, and MTB Competitors

Track team events: Team sprint: 3 riders (men) or 2 riders (women). Team pursuit: 4 riders per team. Madison: teams of 2 riders.
BMX Racing: Individual competition. 8 riders per gate start in motos and knockout rounds.
BMX Freestyle: Individual competition. Typically 9–12 finalists in the Olympic format.
Mountain Bike: Individual competition across all disciplines. Team relay event added for XCO format (mixed gender, 4 riders).

4.3 Commissaire Panel

The commissaire panel is the officiating body for all UCI-sanctioned events. Its structure varies by race level:

President of the Commissaires' Panel (PCP): Overall authority on all regulatory matters during the race. Makes final decisions on protests, sanctions, and classifications.
Finish Judge: Determines the order of finish using photo-finish technology. In road races, the photo-finish camera captures images at 2,000 frames per second.
Timekeeper: Records official times using transponder-based timing systems (e.g., MyLaps or similar). Transponders are mounted on the bicycle fork or frame.
Race Director: Responsible for the operational management of the race, including the motorcade, road closures, and course safety. Works in conjunction with the PCP.
Moto Commissaires: Positioned on motorcycles throughout the race to observe rider conduct, monitor breakaway gaps, and report infractions via radio to the PCP.
Anti-doping officers: Conduct in-competition testing. Selected riders (stage winner, race leader, random selection) are notified immediately after the finish.
Equipment inspectors: Check bicycles before, during, and after races for weight compliance (6.8 kg minimum), frame dimensions, and technological fraud (motor doping) using tablet-based magnetic scanning devices or thermal imaging cameras.

Section 5: Rules of Play

5.1 Road Race

Road races begin with a mass start (peloton). All riders start together, and the first rider across the finish line wins. Key tactical elements include:

Peloton dynamics: Riders draft behind others to save up to 30–40% of their energy. The peloton naturally organises with team formations at the front controlling the pace.
Breakaways: Small groups of riders (1–10) attack off the front of the peloton. Breakaways succeed roughly 10–15% of the time in flat stages. Success rate increases significantly in mountainous terrain.
Sprint finishes: On flat stages, teams organise lead-out trains to deliver their sprinter to the line. The final kilometre is marked by the flamme rouge (red kite). Crashes within the last 3 km do not affect GC time (the rider receives the same time as the group they were in when the incident occurred).
Climbing: Mountain stages are decisive for the general classification. Key climbs are categorised (Hors Categorie, Category 1–4) based on length and gradient. HC climbs are the most difficult.
Time gaps: In stage races, riders within a group (peloton or breakaway) receive the same time as the group. Gaps are measured between groups. A gap of more than 1 second between riders constitutes a separate group.

5.2 Individual Time Trial

Riders start individually at intervals of at least 90 seconds. Fastest cumulative time wins.
Drafting prohibited: Riders must maintain a gap of at least 25 metres from any other rider or vehicle, except when overtaking. A rider being overtaken must drop back to at least 25 m.
Aero equipment: Time trial-specific bicycles with aero bars, disc rear wheel, deep-section or tri-spoke front wheel, and aero helmet are standard. Skinsuits may feature textured fabrics for aerodynamic advantage.
Pacing: Following vehicles must remain at least 10 m behind the rider to avoid providing a drafting advantage.

5.3 Stage Race Format (Grand Tours)

General Classification (GC): The overall winner is determined by the lowest cumulative time across all stages. Time bonuses of 10, 6, and 4 seconds are awarded to the top 3 finishers of each road stage.
Classification jerseys: Yellow (maillot jaune in the Tour de France) for GC leader. Green for points/sprint classification. Polka dot for King of the Mountains classification. White for best young rider (under 25).
Team classification: Sum of the top 3 riders' times per stage. Lowest cumulative total wins.
Time cut (elimination): Riders must finish each stage within a percentage of the winner's time (typically 6–18%, adjusted based on average speed and terrain). Riders outside the time cut are eliminated (OTL — outside time limit).
Feed zones: Designated zones where soigneurs hand musettes to riders. Littering outside designated litter zones incurs fines (CHF 200–500) and can result in time penalties for repeat offenders.

5.4 Track: Sprint Events

Individual Sprint: Match sprint format, best of 3 rides over 2–3 laps (500–750 m on a 250 m track). Only the final 200 m is timed for seeding. Tactical riding dominates the early laps — riders may near-trackstand (ride extremely slowly) to force the opponent to lead. The rider in the rear position has the tactical advantage of being able to launch a surprise attack.
Team Sprint: 3 riders (men) or 2 riders (women). Each rider leads for one lap then peels off. The final rider's time crossing the line is the team's time. Fastest team wins.
Keirin: 6–8 riders follow a motorised pacer (derny) that gradually increases speed from 30 km/h to 50 km/h over approximately 5.5 laps. The derny pulls off with 2.5 laps remaining, and riders sprint for the finish. Tactical positioning behind the derny is critical. Draw determines starting positions.

5.5 Track: Endurance Events

Team Pursuit: Two teams of 4 riders start on opposite sides of the track. Distance: 4 km (men and women). The team time is recorded when the 3rd rider crosses the finish line (one rider may be dropped). A team wins by recording a faster time or by catching the opposing team. Riders rotate the lead position in a pace line, each taking pulls of approximately half a lap.
Madison: Teams of 2 riders. One rider races while the partner circles slowly at the top of the track. Riders exchange via a hand-sling (physical push), transferring momentum to the incoming rider. Points are awarded in intermediate sprints every 10 laps. A team gaining a full lap on the field receives 20 bonus points. Named after Madison Square Garden, where the format originated.
Omnium: A 4-event multi-discipline competition held over a single day. Events in order: scratch race (7.5 km men, 5 km women), tempo race (10 km men, 7.5 km women), elimination race (last rider eliminated every 2 laps), and points race (25 km men, 20 km women). Points accumulate across all 4 events; highest total wins.

5.6 BMX Racing

Gate start: 8 riders per heat. Riders are held in starting gates on an 8 m (26 ft) starting hill. An electronic random-cadence gate drops to signal the start. False starts result in a warning; two false starts in a single race result in relegation to last position.
Motos system: Riders compete in 3 rounds of motos (heats). A points-based system determines advancement: 1st place = 1 point, 2nd = 2, etc. The lowest cumulative score advances to quarter-finals, then semi-finals, then the 8-rider final.
Race duration: A single BMX race lasts approximately 30–45 seconds. First across the finish line in the final wins.
Contact: Incidental contact is tolerated, but deliberate elbowing, pushing, or blocking results in disqualification from that heat.

5.7 BMX Freestyle Park

Run format: Each rider performs 2 runs of 60 seconds each. The best single run score counts for the final ranking.
Judging criteria: Scored from 0 to 100 by a panel of judges, evaluating: trick difficulty, execution and style, height and amplitude, originality and creativity, course usage (variety of features used), and flow/continuity of the run.
Qualifying and finals: Qualifying round determines the top 9 riders who advance to the final. In the final, riders perform their runs in reverse qualifying order (lowest qualifier rides first).

5.8 Mountain Bike Cross-Country (XCO)

Lap format: Number of laps is determined by the first lap time, targeting a total race time of 1 hour 20 minutes (men elite). Lap count is announced at the end of the first lap.
Start: Mass start. Grid positions determined by UCI world ranking. Front row is highly advantageous on narrow courses.
Feed/technical zones: Designated feed zones on each lap. Mechanical assistance is only permitted in designated technical assistance zones (pit zones). Outside these zones, riders must perform their own repairs or abandon. Riders may not receive a replacement bicycle from team support outside the pit zone.
80% rule: Riders lapped by the leader who are more than 80% of the leader's lap time behind are pulled from the race to avoid impeding the leaders.

Section 6: Scoring

6.1 Road Scoring and Classifications

One-day races: First across the finish line wins. Placings determined by order of crossing.
Stage races (GC): Cumulative time across all stages. Time bonuses (10s, 6s, 4s) awarded at stage finishes and at intermediate sprints (3s, 2s, 1s) in some races. Time penalties added for infractions.
Points classification: Points awarded at stage finishes and intermediate sprints. Flat stages award more points than mountain stages to favour sprinters. First place on a flat stage typically earns 50 points; first on a mountain stage earns 20 points.
Mountains classification: Points awarded at the summit of categorised climbs. HC summit: 20+ points, Cat 1: 10 points, Cat 2: 5 points, Cat 3: 2 points, Cat 4: 1 point (exact values vary by race).

6.2 UCI Points System

UCI ranking points are awarded based on race category and finishing position. WorldTour races award the most points (e.g., Grand Tour GC winner: 1,000 points). Points contribute to individual, team, and national rankings.
Team relegation: At the end of each three-year WorldTour licence period, the bottom 3 WorldTour teams by UCI ranking may be relegated to ProTeam status, replaced by the top-ranked ProTeams.
Olympic qualification: National quotas for the Olympics are determined by UCI nation rankings, calculated from the aggregate points of a country's top-ranked riders.

6.3 Track Scoring

Sprint/Team Sprint/Keirin: Placement-based. First across the line wins the heat. Repechage (second-chance) rounds are used in sprint and keirin to allow eliminated riders another opportunity to advance.
Team Pursuit: Time-based. The team time is taken on the 3rd rider. A team may also win by catching the opposing team before the distance is completed.
Omnium scoring: Scratch race: 40 points for 1st, decreasing by 2 per position. Tempo race: 1 point for winning each intermediate sprint (every lap), plus 20 points for gaining a lap. Elimination race: 40 points for last rider standing, decreasing. Points race: 5 points per intermediate sprint (every 10 laps), 20 points for lapping the field. Total across all 4 events determines the winner.
Madison scoring: 5 points for 1st, 3 for 2nd, 2 for 3rd, 1 for 4th in intermediate sprints. 20 points for gaining a lap on the field. Minus 20 points for losing a lap. Final sprint awards double points. Highest total wins; ties broken by final sprint placing.

6.4 BMX and MTB Scoring

BMX Racing: Placement-based through motos (points system: 1st=1, 2nd=2, etc., lowest total advances). Final is first-across-the-line.
BMX Freestyle: Judges' scores from 0–100. Best single run of 2 attempts counts. Scores are awarded by a panel of 6 judges; the highest and lowest scores are dropped, and the remaining 4 are averaged.
MTB XCO: First across the finish line on the final lap wins. Lapped riders are classified based on the number of completed laps and their finishing order within each lap group.

Section 7: Violations & Penalties

7.1 Drafting and Positioning Violations

Drafting in time trial: Maintaining a distance of less than 25 m behind another rider (except when overtaking) results in a time penalty of 30 seconds for first offence, or disqualification for repeated or egregious violations.
Unauthorized shelter: Receiving a drafting advantage from team vehicles ("sticky bottles" — holding onto a car while receiving a water bottle, or sheltering behind a vehicle) results in a fine of CHF 200–1,000 and potential time penalties. The "sticky bottle" technique, where a rider holds a team car's water bottle for an extended period to gain a tow, is formally prohibited but loosely enforced unless egregious.
Sprint deviation: In a sprint finish, riders must hold their line. Deviating from a straight course to impede another rider results in relegation (dropping the rider to last position in their group) or disqualification for dangerous riding.

7.2 Equipment Violations

Bike weight: Bicycle weighing less than 6.8 kg at any point during competition results in start refusal or disqualification. Post-race checks may result in retroactive disqualification.
Frame non-compliance: Using a frame without valid UCI Type Approval results in start refusal. Using non-compliant equipment discovered mid-race leads to disqualification.
Technological fraud (motor doping): The use of any hidden motor or electromagnetic propulsion device in a bicycle carries a lifetime ban from all UCI-sanctioned competition, a fine of CHF 20,000–200,000, forfeiture of all results and prize money, and criminal referral where applicable. Detection is performed using tablet-based magnetic resonance scanning, thermal imaging cameras, and X-ray inspection.
Sock height: Socks exceeding the mid-point between ankle and knee result in a fine and the rider may be required to change before starting. Repeat violations escalate to time penalties.

7.3 Conduct Violations

Dangerous riding: Causing a crash through reckless behaviour results in relegation, disqualification, and/or a fine of up to CHF 5,000. May also result in suspension from subsequent races.
Littering outside designated zones: First offence: CHF 200 fine. Second offence: CHF 500 fine. Third and subsequent offences: 20-second time penalty in addition to the fine.
Unsportsmanlike behaviour: Verbal or physical abuse toward officials, other riders, or spectators results in fines (CHF 200–5,000), relegation, or disqualification. Particularly severe conduct can lead to suspension.
Track-specific infractions: Riding above the sprinter's line improperly in team pursuit results in relegation. In sprint events, dangerous riding (head-butting, elbowing, pushing) results in immediate relegation of the offending rider.

7.4 Anti-Doping Violations

All UCI-sanctioned competitions fall under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code. Violations include presence of a prohibited substance, use or attempted use, evading sample collection, whereabouts failures (3 missed tests within 12 months), and trafficking.
Sanctions: First anti-doping offence: 2–4 year ban. Second offence: 8-year ban to lifetime ban. Results obtained during the period of violation are annulled.
Biological passport: The UCI Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) programme monitors haematological and steroidal markers over time. Abnormal fluctuations may constitute an anti-doping rule violation without a positive test.

Section 8: Safety Considerations

8.1 Helmet and Protective Equipment

Helmet: Mandatory in all UCI-sanctioned events across every discipline. A rider without a helmet may not start. Helmets must be fastened securely at all times during competition. A helmet involved in a crash must be replaced before the rider continues.
BMX protective gear: Full-face helmet, long-sleeved jersey, full-length trousers, gloves, and shin guards are all mandatory. Neck braces are recommended but not required.
Eye protection: Recommended in all disciplines. Mandatory for BMX racing.

8.2 Road Race Safety

Race motorcade: The race convoy includes commissaire motorcycles, medical cars, neutral service vehicles (with spare bikes and wheels), media motorcycles, and team cars. The motorcade is managed by the Race Director to maintain safe distances from riders.
Neutral service: Shimano or Mavic neutral service cars and motorcycles carry spare wheels and bicycles compatible with most setups. They assist any rider regardless of team affiliation.
Course safety: Dangerous descents and corners must be marked with signage. Straw bales, crash barriers, and foam protection are placed at identified high-risk points. Road furniture (bollards, traffic islands, roundabouts) must be marked or protected.
Medical support: Race medical vehicles follow the race. Medical motorcycles are positioned throughout the convoy for rapid response. Finish-line medical facilities are mandatory. For WorldTour events, at least 2 ambulances must be present.
Extreme weather protocol: The PCP may neutralise or shorten a stage due to extreme heat (above 40 degrees C), dangerous crosswinds, snow, ice, or flooding. The final decision rests with the commissaires in consultation with the race organisers.

8.3 Track Safety

Track surface: Must be free of debris and moisture. Racing is suspended if the surface becomes wet or damaged.
Crash barriers: The inner area (apron) is separated from the spectator area by barriers. The area below the blue band (cote d'azur) serves as a safety zone for crashed riders to slide into without hitting hard objects.
Derny/pacer safety (Keirin): The motorised pacer operator must hold a valid UCI licence and must withdraw from the race cleanly at the designated point. The derny must meet specific power and speed regulations.

8.4 BMX and Mountain Bike Safety

BMX course inspection: Riders are given a mandatory practice/inspection period before competition begins. Course modifications may be made after inspection if safety concerns are raised by riders or commissaires.
MTB course marking: Course boundaries must be clearly marked with tape. Dangerous sections (rock gardens, drops, steep descents) must have B-lines (alternative, safer routes) where feasible. Course marshals are positioned at high-risk sections.
Medical response: For all MTB and BMX events, medical personnel with stretchers and spinal immobilisation equipment must be stationed at identified high-risk points on the course. Helicopter evacuation capability is required for World Cup and World Championship mountain bike events.