As riders reveal their 2025 objectives and speak about their hopes and ambitions, security is once more a scorching matter and sparking debate. Nobody needs to undergo severe damage nor see a repeat of the most important crashes that concerned Wout Van Aert at Dwars door Vlaanderen or Remco Evenepoel, Jonas Vingegaard and others at Itzulia Basque Country in 2024.
Last week Van Aert prompt that gear restrictions might be a technique to scale back speeds within the peloton by making it harder for riders to maneuver up on quick descents. Some of essentially the most famend tools specialists within the sport have shunned that concept however Chris Froome prompt limiting the development of expertise to assist enhance security.
Matteo Trentin (Tudor Pro Cycling) is likely one of the most revered voices within the peloton and at all times has a balanced, knowledgeable opinion, particularly concerning rider and race security. He needs a unique, safer mindset.
“Gear restrictions will be a part of the answer, along with greater adjustments,” Trentin advised Cyclingnews through the Tudor Pro Cycling media day in Spain.
“We cannot take crashing with no consideration. We should have that mindset and alter for the higher, as different sports activities have completed.
“We want to grasp that biking has modified. The speeds are larger however that is not really the principle downside. The basic degree of depth and competitiveness has elevated too. Where we as soon as had 15 riders going right into a nook, now we’ve 50 riders going for it. In different key moments of massive races, riders aren’t dropped or lined out like they as soon as have been. That solely creates extra issues and wishes extra consideration.”
Trentin referred to as for race organisers to assist make races safer by working with native authorities on route choice, to keep away from the hazards of visitors ‘furnishings’ and poor highway design.
Trentin was in favour of circuit finishes, in order that riders may see the ultimate kilometres no less than as soon as earlier than a high-speed dash end. He prompt it might imply followers may additionally see the race a number of occasions and so the organisation may generate extra income and supply extra providers to followers.
He praised Paris-Roubaix organiser ASO for decreasing the hazards of the Forest of Arenberg by including a chicane on the entrance, suggesting it as instance of change and improved security.
“If we have at all times used the identical method to a key a part of a race, possibly that is not adequate anymore and we’ve to vary issues to make sure security,” Trentin prompt.
“The means they modified the doorway to Forest of Arenberg in Paris-Roubaix after listening to the riders was an instance of that. There have been so many crashes there however now, due to the chicane, that hazard has been diminished.”
Trentin referred to as for extra dialogue between the riders, the Cyclistes Professionnels Associés (CPA) riders’ affiliation, race organisers and the UCI.
“I can keep in mind once we have been at all times on one aspect and the organisers have been on the opposite aspect,” Trentin stated of earlier disputes.
“The new SafeR venture has introduced us collectively. The UCI can now not put their head within the sand each time one thing occurs. They’ve realised they should act like several good governing physique, discover options to issues and convey everybody collectively.
“Athletes at all times need to carry out. We work our asses off twelve months a 12 months to carry out. If I do not need to race, it is not as a result of I’m gentle or that I’m in search of a confrontation, it is as a result of it is not protected and so not attainable.
“When athletes in any sport let you know one thing just isn’t protected, then everybody has to take heed to them.”
