Visma-Lease a Bike 'utterly astonished' as UCI issues wheel tech ban just two weeks before Paris-Roubaix

Just two weeks ahead of Paris-Roubaix, the UCI has banned the use of the Gravaa KAPS (Kinetic Air Pressure System) technology by the Jumbo-Visma men's team, a move that has left the team’s Head of Performance, Mathieu Heijboer, “utterly astonished.” The KAPS system, developed by Dutch company Gravaa and first introduced in a WorldTour race in March 2023, allows for self-inflating tyres and has been a key innovation tested extensively by the team over recent seasons. Despite Gravaa’s bankruptcy earlier this year, the team continued to use the technology, which has featured in multiple editions of Paris-Roubaix and was notably used by Marianne Vos to win the 2025 Gravel World Championships. Heijboer expressed frustration with the timing and manner of the ban, revealing that the team only received official notification from the UCI two weeks before the race, with no prior warning. The team had even competed at the GP Denain, a significant cobblestone race, using the system just days before the ban was announced. Heijboer suggested the timing was deliberate, given the preparation required for Paris-Roubaix and the potential competitive advantage the technology could provide. The UCI’s decision is based on its ‘Commercialisation’ rule, which requires equipment to be commercially available to all athletes, a criterion the UCI claims the KAPS system no longer meets due to Gravaa’s bankruptcy and doubts over its market availability. The UCI’s technical regulations allow for a 12-month grace period for prototype equipment, but this can only be extended with justified grounds, and officials have the authority to bar riders from using non-compliant gear. Heijboer noted that although Gravaa was relaunched after its bankruptcy, the UCI remains unconvinced about the system’s commercial status and has prohibited its use for the remainder of the year. Faced with the short notice and the complexities of appealing the decision, Jumbo-Visma has reluctantly decided to abandon the technology for Paris-Roubaix, despite having prepared hundreds of wheelsets fitted with the system. This development is a significant setback for Jumbo-Visma and their star rider Wout van Aert, who is considered a strong contender for victory alongside favourites Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogačar. Van Aert has shown promising form in the 2026 season, with notable performances in Milan-San Remo and the Tour of Flanders, and the loss of the KAPS system could impact his chances on the demanding cobbles of Roubaix. Heijboer lamented the lack of clarity from the UCI regarding the ban and reiterated the team’s belief in the system’s value, signalling ongoing efforts to challenge the ruling despite the immediate setback.