On the road, aero extensions have been banned for a long time in road racing (they are only allowed on time trial and triathlon bikes). The reason is related to safety: this prohibition has been attributed to the dangerousness of using these sockets in groups. Sudden braking is enough and you don't have a safety position for braking (besides not having the levers "ready to use" but you have to return, with your hands, to the classic position. Therefore, at the moment, this device cannot be used in UCI races except in time trial or track races.
UNBOUND GRAVEL
Unbound Gravel, like many other major Gravel races, is not organized under the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale).
Gravel is appearing more and more as a competitive proposition, naturally arousing controversy given that the gravel spirit is anything but competitive. But leaving out this aspect that goes beyond the meaning of the article, prosthetics are now being banned in gravel competitions: many leading athletes, including the winner of Unbound Gravel 2022 (Ivar Slik), have used this trick.
The use of aerodynamic prostheses is also widely used for a matter of comfort: spending many hours in the saddle (the unbound gravel is approaching 10 hours of competition) puts a lot of stress on the back, and the use of aerodynamic prostheses allows you to relax back by changing position. But the use of this solution can lead to a safety problem, especially in less technical athletes. Among the detractors of this component there is also the former MTB pro rider Geoff Kabush. Now, the biggest race on the planet, Unbound gravel, has banned them.
At the moment, there is no specific Gravel regulation in the UCI that prohibits its use, but the generic road regulation does. To a certain extent it is at the discretion of the marshals even if common sense applies the road regulation to gravel too. We'll see if this choice of Unbound Gravel, a race with enormous influence, will standardize the gravel world with the NOT use of aerodynamic extensions.
