Why is the UCI cracking down on number pockets at the Tour after it approved them six years ago?

Is the forthcoming ban on window number pockets really necessary? We ask Nopinz, the creators of the original 'Speedpocket', what the reasoning is behind the UCI's actions

Geraint Thomas with the number 21 in a rear number pocket
(Image credit: Getty Images)

A week before the start of the 2022 Tour de France, a letter was sent to UCI teams competing in that race and in the Tour de France Femmes, concerning the use of 'pin-less' number fixation systems. 

While not an official directive, the letter, which was revealed by CyclingTips, was apparently, a "kind request" after "several cycling stakeholders" had raised concerns about the lack of rider number visibility in races. 

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Hannah Bussey

Hannah is Cycling Weekly’s longest-serving tech writer, having started with the magazine back in 2011. She has covered all things technical for both print and digital over multiple seasons representing CW at spring Classics, and Grand Tours and all races in between.


Hannah was a successful road and track racer herself, competing in UCI races all over Europe as well as in China, Pakistan and New Zealand.


For fun, she's ridden LEJOG unaided, a lap of Majorca in a day, won a 24-hour mountain bike race and tackled famous mountain passes in the French Alps, Pyrenees, Dolomites and Himalayas. 


She lives just outside the Peak District National Park near Manchester UK with her partner, daughter and a small but beautifully formed bike collection.