Cycling’s governing body has confirmed the rule change following a two-day management committee meeting at this week’s Road World Championships in the American city of Richmond.

Rather than only being able to use two-way radios in top stage races and classics, cyclists and teams in 2016 will also be able to do so in events such as the Tour of Britain and the Tour of California.

All events but class two races are now open to two-way radio use, ending a drawn-out debate between the cyclists and teams, and the UCI.

The changes also apply to the women’s WorldTour and class one World Cup events for elite women, as well as time trial events.

Having attempted to do so previously with limited success, the UCI blocked two-way radio use in all but WorldTour and women’s World Cup events in 2011.

The rule changes also include a relaxation on the use of on-bike cameras, which are becoming a common addition to bikes in the WorldTour peloton.

The signing-off of Article 1.3.024 authorises "the use of onboard cameras without the need for teams and organisers to request permission from the UCI".

Another change approved at the meeting was the integration of the Extreme Weather Protocol, designed to help handle dangerous conditions in professional races, into UCI regulations having been trialled at numerous races this season.

The reforms are part of the governance changes promised by UCI President Brian Cookson following his election in 2013.

"The UCI's mission is to develop the sport of cycling in all of its forms and I am delighted with the way the UCI Management Committee is fulfilling this task," he said.

"Together we have already made tremendous progress in restoring trust in the UCI and lead change.

"The decisions made today will take all of our disciplines to another level."

Meanwhile, the UCI has also released the schedule for next year’s men’s WorldTour, with the Eneco Tour being moved from early-August to mid-September, and the Tour de Pologne clashing with the Tour de France in July.

Longer WorldTour licenses and mandatory anti-doping controls were among several changes unveiled by the UCI earlier this week as part of its reforms of men’s professional cycling, following a two-year consultation process.



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