The affiliation of race organisers (AIOCC) held its Normal Meeting in Italy on Friday with security the principle level of dialogue after a season that noticed Muriel Furrer die following a crash on the World Championships and Tour de France contenders severely injured in a mass crash within the Itzulia Basque Nation.
Christian Prudhomme, the final director of the Tour de France, blamed the Itzulia crash on the pace of the peloton.
“Past the habits of the athletes and the work of the organisers, it’s completely vital to cut back pace by acceptable measures: the riders are going too quick,” Prudhomme emphasised.
“The quicker they go, the higher the chance and the extra they endanger themselves and others. We already stated it right here final 12 months: our automotive and bike drivers not have a security margin! Think about the results if one in all our drivers, subjected to an excessive amount of strain, misplaced management on a descent from a move or when racing by way of a built-up space.”
Very similar to throughout the UCI Congress, the topic of Muriel Fisher’s tragic demise introduced security into focus within the assembly, with race radios among the many subjects.
UCI President David Lappartient responded to a query in regards to the federation’s plan to cut back using earpieces within the peloton by asserting that there are fewer crashes on this planet championships the place earpieces are usually not allowed.
Lappartient stated that groups argue in favour of earpieces over security issues, however shot again that groups all inform their riders to maneuver up on the similar time earlier than a vital a part of the course, which causes crashes, and pointed to the radios riders put on on their backs as having the potential to trigger spinal fractures.
“I’ve additionally had riders write to me who do not essentially need me to publish their names – the bulk will need to preserve the earpieces – however there are nonetheless lots of riders who contemplate that it is a component that contributes to a specific amount of stress within the peloton.
“I feel it is a bit of a disgrace that some folks need to draw a conclusion from a dramatic fall comparable to that of Muriel Furrer, which is underneath investigation by the police,” he stated, including that an earpiece may not have helped.
He did recommend that GPS trackers may very well be used sooner or later to ship an alert when a rider’s pace has dropped to zero.
“There are a number of choices, there may be a riders’ radio that might transmit security info to the riders,” he stated, somewhat than a two-way radio that might permit groups to ship strategic directions to the riders.
Lappartient additionally mentioned the brand new yellow card system that can start to result in sanctions on groups and riders for security rule violations throughout races after a profitable trial throughout the 2024 season.
He stated the UCI has taken suggestions from riders and he agreed there may be some calibration to be carried out on the scheme. Race officers shall be skilled in order that penalties are imposed persistently between races.
