First it was puppy dog paws, then too thin bars. Now, the UCI will enforce a new rule prohibiting excessive turning of the brake lever, starting this week at the Tour Down Under.

As the UCI prepares to implement the new rules in December, CPA President Adam Hansen supported the brake lever angle ban, saying that tilting the lever inward 10% or 15% puts extra stress on the handlebars and can lead to crashes.

"If the levers are not placed in the correct position designed by the manufacturer, extra stress is placed on them. He said, "The levers designed by the manufacturer are, in a sense, meant to be placed straight on the handlebars. The manufacturer had no idea that the levers would be inclined."

Victor Kampenaerts disagreed and said the rule had loopholes and was "bullshit."

The UCI began measuring the angle of riders' brake hoods at this week's Tour Down Under, using a special jig that quickly detects hoods angled more than 10% to check for handlebar lean against the drop.

According to a Ride Media video, the UCI found only two bikes in violation of the rules, and team mechanics were able to quickly adjust the bikes so the riders could race.

The rule states, "The center plane of the brake hood body must be aligned with the center plane of the traditional handlebar (drop area). A maximum tilt of 10 degrees between the two planes is allowed in order to allow the brake system to operate safely and as designed (or intended) by placing the hand on the lever support and pulling the lever."

The rules also state that "the brake hood body must be aligned with the center plane of the traditional handlebar.