UCI introduces "equipment registration" Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes

The UCI has introduced what it's calling a Road Equipment Registration Procedure ahead of this year's Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes Avec Zwift, which will see all teams forced to register every piece of "critical equipment" they intend to use via new online portal.

Critical equipment includes: framesets, wheels, handlebars, time-trial base bars, time-trial extensions, clothing, and helmets. It has been rumoured this could bring difficulties to the teams in their preparation for the Grand Boucle, however may also be a positive factor when it comes to advertising of the brands.

The aim of the new procedure, according to the document, is to ensure that the existing UCI regulations are properly adhered to, in turn promoting "fair and equitable access to equipment" and ensuring a "level playing field for all competitors."

The procedure currently applies solely to the two Tours de France, and the document confirms that the newly outlined procedure "will not be enforced for other road events on the 2023 UCI International calendar."