Disc brakes in road cycling? The debate remains open
The use of disc brakes on road bikes continues to be a topic of discussion in the professional peloton. Some cyclists, such as Tom Boonen, defend their advantages in terms of safety and performance, while others warn about their possible risks, such as the accident suffered by Fran Ventoso. Are they really the best option for competitive cycling or should they be banned in regulated events?
The Royal Spanish Cycling Federation (RFEC) has made a clear decision on this matter: in the upcoming Spanish Cycling Championship, which will be held from June 23 to 25, disc brakes will be prohibited. The main reason is not related to safety, but to fairness among competitors. According to the RFEC, bikes equipped with disc brakes offer a technical advantage over those with the conventional brake system, which could create an imbalance in the competition.
It is worth noting that the UCI allows the use of disc brakes in professional cycling, but restricts them in amateur competitions. Since both professional cyclists and Elite category riders (amateurs over 23 years old) will participate in the Spanish Championship, the Federation has chosen to unify criteria and avoid differences in the equipment of road bikes.
And what about mountain bikes?
While the debate continues in road cycling, in the world of mountain biking the issue is more than settled. Disc brakes have become the standard in practically all types of mountain bikes, from XC to Enduro and Downhill , due to its powerful and progressive braking capacity, especially on technical terrain and in adverse conditions.
Thus, although in road bike races disc brakes continue to generate controversy, in mountain biking they have already proven to be an essential option to guarantee safety and control on any type of route.