Prototype Ekoi pedals set to launch in September as UCI red tape prevents green light

The radical new Ekoi pedals that were stamped out by the UCI at the weekend are set to launch in September, provided they are ultimately approved by the sport’s governing body.

The PW8 pedals from the French brand, which feature a strikingly large platform and come with suggestions of an eight-watt saving, are currently undergoing the UCI’s ‘homologation’ process for new equipment prototypes.

The pedals are therefore not formally banned but rather not yet approved, as confirmed to GCN by Jérôme Pulidori, the manager of the Nice Métropole Côte d’Azur team that has been testing the pedals.

Pulidori also indicated that, all being well, the pedals will be presented publicly at the Vuelta a España before going on sale in September. The 2024 Vuelta runs from 17 August to 8 September.

It would appear that Ekoi and the Nice Métropole team jumped the gun in using the pedals in competition last week, and also that the UCI only became aware they were being used when photographs were widely circulated after the opening stage of the race in question, the Etoile de Bessèges.

That led to a farcical situation detailed by Matos Vélo, in which riders were left scrambling to source replacement pedals and shoes after being informed by the UCI the PW8s could no longer be used just an hour before the start of stage 3.

The UCI does allow for the use of prototype equipment that’s not commercially available but has a strict process for registering it. A ‘Prototype Application Form’ must be filed, which demands details of the product, the planned date of commercialisation, and a fee of up to 1,000 Swiss Francs.

The form must be submitted at least 45 days prior to the equipment’s use in competition. It is unknown when Ekoi submitted their form, but the indication is that the pedals have simply not yet been given that green light, rather than being knocked back.

Pulidori confirmed that several of his riders are “currently involved in a trial phase as part of a development partnership to test the reliability and longevity of the product at high-intensity.” The Spanish Burgos-BH team are also part of the trial, with riders free to try them out.

Ekoi has not officially publicised the PW8 pedals, but its CEO Jean-Christophe Rattel has spoken about them and made no secret of his excitement. The big claim was that they could amount to an eight-watt saving, which, although vague, would appear to represent a very significant advantage indeed.

Rattel also indicated that €2 million has been spent developing the product over the past two years, and that it had been pitched in front of WorldTour giants such as Ineos Grenadiers and UAE Team Emirates.

At present, the design is so far removed from the traditional clipless pedal systems that it does not conform with the three-bolt cleat design and requires the use of a proprietary shoe. At first glance, the cleat is built into the sole in a way that’s less protruding than rival models, which would make them easier to walk in, as with MTB pedals, but would also provide an aero advantage that could contribute to that claimed eight-watt saving.

It remains to be seen what new details emerge and what developments are made between now and the September launch - and of course whether the UCI does ultimately grant that green light.

Ekoi

Ekoï is a cycling equipment manufacturer, founded in the famous cycling town of Roubaix in 2001. The company specialises in eyewear and helmets but also offers other product ranges, including clothing and footwear, across four disciplines.