Tony Martin no longer understands the world. The tragic death of Gino Mäder just before the Tour de France has reopened a collective wound in cycling, and when it comes to safety, people seem to be all too happy to go round in circles.
Tony Martin voices criticism
"The way I see it, relatively little has happened. It feels like we're still driving around with the same standard as at the start of my career. I tried to do a lot, but relatively little or nothing happened," the 38-year-old Martin told the German Press Agency.
The first week of the Tour is often breakneck anyway and overshadowed by serious crashes. Every pro is a little more motivated, every team pushes a little harder for success. A stage win in cycling's biggest spectacle can shape entire careers. And when the starting gun goes off in the Basque Country on Saturday, the first two days will be characterised by many small roads, steep and winding descents - and everyone wants to be at the front. "But not everyone can ride at the front. That's why the field takes on such a momentum of its own. Crashes will probably be unavoidable," Ralph Denk, head of the German top team Bora-hansgrohe, told dpa.
Crashes as a dilemma in cycling
It's a dilemma in sport for which there are only limited solutions. There is certainly potential for making sections of the route safer or planning stages better. This applies in particular to town crossings, traffic islands, roundabouts or the design of the finale of a stage. "There will never be cycling without crashes and serious injuries, but there are many countermeasures that can be taken," said Martin. Some minor changes have already been made there in recent years.
But something always had to happen first. Since the life-threatening crash of Dutch rider Fabio Jakobsen at the Tour of Poland 2020, special barriers have been installed in the sprint finals instead of simple barriers. The death of Mäder, who crashed on the descent from the Albula Pass at the Tour de Suisse a week and a half ago, could hardly have been prevented. "It's not possible to secure it to the same standard as in ski racing in Kitzbühel, for example, with triple safety nets," said Denk. But that is exactly what is currently being discussed. In future, at least certain sections of downhill runs are to be secured by safety nets. It's all - how could it be otherwise - a question of money.
Old Martin companion as an interface
The interface between riders and organisers as well as the UCI is an old companion of Tony Martin. Adam Hansen is the president of the riders' union CPA. On Wednesday, he will meet with the UCI, the teams and the Tour organiser ASO. One topic: safety. "We want to discuss what we can do at the finishes after descents," Hansen told the Guardian. Mäder died during one of these stages. There will be two sections of the Tour in the high mountains, with a descent after the last pass.
There is rarely any argument other than spectacle in favour of such route planning. There is apparently speculation that riders who are left behind on the mountain will take an additional risk on the descent in order to make up time. Ralph Denk, however, argues that this is a little too simple: "If there is another climb, the descent will be hammered down in the same way." According to Hansen, the ASO is very open to safety aspects. However, it is very unlikely that Tour stages will be changed at short notice.
Hansen sees approach for improvement
Hansen sees another approach to improving safety: educating drivers. "Perhaps we need better training for drivers," said the 42-year-old. The professionals need to be "very well informed about the risks". One reason for this is that bikes are becoming faster and faster due to technical developments. Triple-digit speeds are nothing special for professionals on an alpine descent these days. "It has become significantly more dangerous," said Hansen.
As macabre as it may sound, it's important for a professional to simply switch off. "It's always present that something can happen," said German champion Emanuel Buchmann. "I think you have to block that out to a certain extent. Otherwise you can't do the sport in the long term."
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