Cycling is facing a growing problem: the safety of athletes. Recent years have been overshadowed by tragic events, including three fatal racing accidents and serious crashes, which have made the dangers of this sport unmistakable. The death of the Swiss professional cyclist Gino Mäder in July 2023 following a crash at the Tour de Suisse once again made the urgency of the issue painfully clear.
SafeR working group established
In response to this development, the SafeR working group was set up at the start of the 2023 Tour de France. This consortium of teams, riders, organisers and the UCI aimed to work together to find solutions to dangerous situations. Despite these efforts, there were two more fatal accidents in 2024. The first measures developed by SafeR, including yellow cards for dangerous behaviour, only came into force this season.
Sport inside is available as a TV magazine programme and podcast. The programme sheds light on the darker side of the sporting world. The current programme asks why there are so many serious accidents in road cycling and whether enough is being done to prevent them. TOUR summarises the findings of the current programme:
In the "Sport inside" podcast, many teams and riders express their frustration at the lack of progress and call for decisive action instead of mere cosmetic changes. The UCI is at the centre of the criticism, as the world governing body ultimately decides which SafeR proposals are implemented. Former professionals and team bosses such as Jonathan Vaughters accuse the UCI of a lack of understanding of racing. There is a lack of leadership from people who know the risks of the sport from their own experience. The UCI, on the other hand, emphasises that meaningful changes take time and points to the involvement of all those involved in SafeR as a guarantee of independence.
Sport inside is one of the causes of the increased risk:
Sport inside author David Vorholt names several factors that contribute to the increased risk:
Higher speeds: Modern carbon wheels and disc brakes enable significantly higher speeds, especially on descents where speeds of up to 100 km/h can be reached. Whereas in the past, riders used to ride more relaxed in such sections, today they are constantly fighting for position.
Route design and infrastructure: Route design is increasingly proving to be a problem. On the one hand, modern roads are designed to slow down car traffic (e.g. through roundabouts), which leads to safety risks for cycle races. On the other hand, there is criticism of the design of individual sections of the route, such as a descent followed by a challenging section of the Cross Flanders. Errors in the route design have already led to dangerous situations in the current season.
Responsibility and sanctions: While SafeR measures have so far primarily held riders accountable, many are calling for an independent safety authority (AAG) that can also sanction race organisers. The UCI receives a large part of its income from race organisers, which could lead to a potential conflict of interest in safety issues. Race organisers, for their part, emphasise the enormous effort and responsibility they bear.
Persons responsible for the programme
The following people are quoted in the programme "Dispute over safety in cycling":
John Degenkolb talks about the dangers of cycling
Jonathan Vaughters, former pro and current EF Pro Cycling team manager, is quoted as criticising the UCI, which he accuses of lacking understanding of the race.
Christian Prudhomme, head of the Tour de France, discusses the increasing speeds and the need for a discussion with the cycling industry
Steven Verstockt, head of research at Ghent University, explains the results of a study on the causes of falls in professional cycling.
Sport inside calls for discussion
Author David Vorholt does not see the SafeR initiative as "the big hit", but emphasises that something has been done and that it is "not just about cosmetics". He can imagine learning from Formula 1, for example, and mentions future ideas such as airbags. According to Sport inside, the discussion between riders, teams, UCI and organisers must be intensified in order to find sustainable solutions and minimise the risk for the athletes.
Our conclusionThe programme offers a good overview of the safety debate in cycling and takes a critical look at the SafeR initiative. The programme is definitely recommended for cycling fans.
Click here for the Podcast
Here to the programme on YouTube
Kristian Bauer
Editor
