The UCI has established several new rules for the use of unpaved roads in its latest road race rule revision.

Road racing on dirt roads has generated strong interest in races such as Paris-Roubaix, Strade Bianche, and Toro Bro Leon, as well as stages that pass through similar sections of the Grand Tours, and an entirely separate genre of gravel races that replicate these experiences for amateurs has been was created.

Unpaved sections have been used in the 2010 Giro d'Italia stage won by Cadel Evans on a stormy day on the white roads of Tuscany, the 2018 Giro d'Italia's Colle del Finestre with Chris Froome's race winning attack, the 2014 He has heightened the drama on Grand Tour stages such as the cobblestone stages of the Tour de France, like the one that led Vincenzo Nibali to overall victory.

The UCI rules seem to try to limit the sporting impact of unpaved sections, requiring race organizers to ensure that "the event is run smoothly, both sportingly and with respect to the fair treatment of participants."

The rules also state that the UCI must be notified that dirt roads will be used.

At last year's Vuelta a España, Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana) crashed during an attack on a section of gravel road leading up to the finish climb of stage 9. The gravel and mud damaged his bike and he had no way to get support.

Fortunately, Lopez was able to minimize his losses, but under new UCI rules, organizers are required to provide teams with information on the length, type of surface, difficulty, and width of unpaved sections and to provide photos and video if necessary.

Organizers must also ensure that unpaved sections can be ridden on road bikes in any weather conditions, ensure the safety of "riders, spectators and race followers" on the course, ensure that following vehicles are suitable for the section and that drivers have "the necessary skills" to ride the section must ensure that the driver has the "necessary skills" to complete the section.

The UCI "may refuse to register a race on the competition calendar and/or refuse to include unpaved sections."