'We Will Not Stand for This Any Longer' – Peloton Unites in Protest Against Unsafe Racing Conditions, Delaying Start of Il Lombardia
Riders said multiple recent vehicle incidents and one death showed race safety failures, urging the UCI and organisers to make concrete changes.
- On Saturday in Bergamo, the peloton staged a five-minute protest at the start of Il Lombardia, refusing to begin the 239km race to demand improved safety measures.
- Following a Tuesday incident at the Tre Valli Varesine race where a police motorbike struck two riders, the CPA union stated, "This week alone, there were multiple incidents of vehicles on race courses."
- Belgium's Remco Evenepoel highlighted the fatal August collision involving British rider Finlay Tarling at the Volta a Portugal, saying, "We cannot keep accepting the fact that guys are getting injured or literally dying."
- After the five-minute stoppage, the starting flag was waved again and the peloton departed for Como, with riders emphasizing the protest aimed to demonstrate unity without disrupting the sporting event.
- Professional cyclists are demanding a serious conversation between the UCI and race organisers to ensure concrete changes to road management, warning they will not accept the current lack of protection.
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27 Articles
When it started, everything stood still: At the one-day classic in Italy, the participating cycling professionals went on strike for five minutes before the start. Then Remco Evenepoel grabbed a microphone.
The participants refused to start when the speaker gave the departure of the last Monument of the season, in order to signal their concern after serial accidents, including several fatal ones.
Before the start of the Tour of Lombardy, riders protested in order to improve safety in cycling races
Several races in recent months have been the scene of serious accidents involving runners and vehicles that had broken into the course.
The peloton delayed the start of the Tour de Lombardie, this Saturday in Bergamo, by five minutes to denounce the multiplication of incidents involving vehicles in the race.
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