Past World Championships and winners’ jerseys, there are only a few locations you’ll spot the well-known rainbow bands. That’s as a result of they’re owned and strictly managed by the UCI.
Nevertheless, we’ve got been in a position, completely legitimately, to show them on our bikes because of an settlement between biking’s governing physique and an iconic US bike model.
However that settlement has now come to an finish.
Based mostly in San Carlos, California, Ritchey produces every thing bike, from frames, to wheels to elements. Its ‘World Championship Sequence’ ending equipment options the rainbow bands – blue, crimson, black, yellow and inexperienced, alongside a ‘WCS’ emblem. No extra although.
The settlement between Ritchey and the UCI expired on the finish of 2024, and “shouldn’t be eligible for renewal”, stated Ritchey on its web site.
It defined: “After 30-plus years of a emblem synonymous with victories at Union Cycliste Worldwide (UCI) World Cup and Championship races, the time has come for Ritchey — in accordance with UCI rules — to retire the long-lasting rainbow stripes that dignify world champions in all biking disciplines.
“The settlement between the UCI and Ritchey to make use of the world champion stripes expired on the finish of 2024 and isn’t eligible for renewal. Ritchey want to acknowledge the decades-long partnership and thank the UCI for using the celebrated image.”
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Ritchey’s WCS equipment is light-weight, prime quality and has all the time been immediately recognisable because of its multi-coloured emblem. It is also extraordinarily well-liked, and there is a good probability loads of riders studying this piece can have it fitted to a motorcycle of their storage or shed.
It will likely be more durable to identify now although, with Ritchey swapping to a muted set of metallic gray stripes alongside the WCS letters.
The US firm, owned by Tom Ritchey, says it’s “the beginning of a brand new period”, including: “Ritchey has advanced past pure racing as our ethos. By retiring the championship colours, we transcend the constraints imposed by a singular give attention to competitors, whereas staying true to the elite high quality we’re identified for.”
The vary options every thing from bars to stems, seatposts, saddles and headsets, manufactured in carbon or aluminium. Riders will nonetheless be capable to use their previous WCS equipment, resplendent on the earth champ’s stripes, however for those who’re notably keen on it do be sure you take care of it, as a result of the substitute might be far much less vibrant.