Can radio and earpiece be used in MTB races?

During the training sessions of the Shimano Supercup Massi Banyoles 2025, we saw that some cyclists from the Trek Factory Racing team were wearing earpieces to communicate with the team. This made us wonder how the regulations in mountain biking regarding this element that causes so much controversy on the road are being followed.

Can earpieces be used in mountain bike races?

In 2023, Warner Bros. Discovery arrived at the MTB World Cup as a new partner of the UCI, and among the many novelties they introduced, there was a section on the inclusion of radios in mountain bike competitions.

At that time, it seemed like it could be a new revolution in racing and we even saw important cyclists like Mathias Fluckiger wearing it in some World Cup events. But the truth is that it seems to have had little impact, and so far we have not seen this tool become popular among XCO teams.

That's why when we saw the Trek Factory Racing team training using earpieces in Banyoles, we had to ask if they would use them in the race. But they soon told us that no, it was only for organizing themselves during training, as the UCI prohibits their use in these races.

RECOMENDADO

Boost your watts, boost your level: that's how you improve your FTP

What are the five monuments of cycling?

The most reliable method for determining how many calories you burn while cycling

The highest-paid cyclists in the world in 2026: Pogacar continues to lead the ranking.

SCOTT Spark RC 2026 Range: updated models, prices, and weights

When do helmets have to be changed? Do they have an expiration date?

The regulations on the use of radios are clear, as the UCI states in the regulations: "The use of radios or other means of communication at a distance (in mountain biking) with the riders is prohibited except in UCI World Cup events and with prior authorization from the UCI."

XCO races, due to their explosiveness in time and effort, do not seem very compatible with strategies involving radio communication. However, let's not forget that the rule applies to all mountain bike disciplines, and in events like XCM races, it could be a differentiating factor for important teams.

Only time will tell if the earpiece becomes established in mountain biking as it has in road cycling, or if it remains as an irrelevant technology in this type of events.