UCI rules strip Italian cyclist of victory due to irregular handlebar measurements after 60 km solo ride and a fall

This was the 'opening weekend' of the Spring Classics, with Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne - Bruxelles – Kuurne. In France, there were two races in the Ardèche region, and in Italy a race that will now make the newspaper headlines.

Controversy erupted after the finish of the 168-kilometre Memorial Polese, won by Filippo D’Aiuto of General Store – Essegibi – F.lli. The Italian rider was disqualified because, according to UCI regulations, the distance between his brake levers did not comply with the rules.

Filippo D’Aiuto had won the race solo after a 60-kilometre breakaway on his own, but during the race he suffered a setback, as explained in a statement published by the Italian team on social media.

“Filippo D’Aiuto started the race with a bicycle set up correctly in all its components. The crash he suffered on the gravel section resulted in a change to the position of the levers which, because of the impact, ended up closer together than permitted.”

“The team takes note and respects the jury’s decision despite strongly criticising it, given D’Aiuto’s excellent performance, as he crossed the finish line alone after a 60 km solo effort,” they underlined.

It should be noted that from 2026 the new rules state there must be a minimum total handlebar width of 400mm and a minimum distance of 280mm between the inner points of the brake levers, or hoods.

D’Aiuto returned to the team this year after a spell with Petrolike in 2025 and showed his dissatisfaction in an interview with Ciclismoweb after the race. “I won, there’s not much more to say. I crashed and, as a consequence, my brake levers were bent inward. They took away my victory because the levers did not comply with the rules.”

“It’s ridiculous and the commissaires will look ridiculous,” continued D’Aiuto, who explained that after the crash the officials approached him and pointed at the bike. “The race commissaire told me I should have stopped and changed bikes, but I only had a one-minute advantage. So what could I have done? It would have been impossible,” reflected the 23-year-old.

The Italian team, founded in 2010, thanked supporters for their messages of solidarity and condemnation of the commissaires’ decision, and also acknowledged the teams of the two riders who stepped onto the podium. “We thank Team Hopplà and SC Padovani Polo Cherry Bank for their gesture of solidarity during the podium ceremony.”

Lorenzo Magli of Team Hopplà was declared the official winner of the day but refused to stand on the top step of the podium during the ceremony. “I finished second and I feel that I finished second, that Filippo D’Aiuto was the real winner,” said Magli. “He crashed, rode 60 km alone, waited 90 minutes for the final decisions and then they took the victory away from him. It’s the least I could do.”

A precedent has now been set. The incident occurred in a smaller race, a domestic event in Italy. But what if the same happens in a Grand Tour? What decisions will the commissaires take if a Yellow Jersey is at stake? The UCI has dictated the rules, we will see where they lead the sport.