Tour de France riders protested in the beginning of Tuesday’s stage to complain about perceived harmful racing situations, when a flurry of accidents reignited the difficulty of street security.
After leaving the city of Radon within the western Brittany area to start Stage 4, the peloton moved at a average tempo and all riders acquired off their bikes after a couple of kilometer. He waited quietly for a couple of minute earlier than hitting the street once more.
After a crash-filled Stage 3, many riders have criticized race organizers for what they contemplate a harmful end to a Tour stage, particularly within the early days of the race when panic is at its highest.
Former world champion Philippe Gilbert stated in a video that riders’ representatives requested for Stage 3 to finish with 5 kilometers remaining. The objective of most riders was to keep away from the dangerous remaining dash on the slim and winding roads resulting in the end line.
“We analyzed the route and saw that the finish was extremely dangerous,” stated Gilbert, a Belgian classicist.
Gilbert stated race organizer ASO supported the proposal. “But the UCI (cycling’s governing body) commissioner did not accept the request, it was rejected early in the morning of the race,” he stated.
Gilbert stated a stack on a downhill curve about three kilometers from the end was a direct end result.
“The people who approved this route have made a big mistake,” he stated.
The riders union CPA stated in a press release that it has requested the UCI to arrange discussions to adapt the so-called “3-kilometer rule” throughout stage races. Under that regulation, riders who crash within the final three kilometers are awarded the time of the group they have been driving earlier than the autumn.
“It can avoid situations like those that happened in yesterday’s stage,” the union stated. “Riders and CPA are determined to advance changes for the safety and physical integrity of athletes. These changes are more urgent than ever.”
Thierry Gouvenau, in command of the tour route, instructed L’Equipe newspaper concerning the rising challenges to discovering a Finnish web site with out harmful street materials.
“There is no longer a medium-sized city with no small islands, roundabouts or narrows,” he stated. “Ten years ago, there were 1,100 dangerous points on the Tour de France. This year there are 2,300. If demand levels get too high, there will be no more endings. That’s where we are.”
Gilbert didn’t put all of the blame on the UCI on the route, nonetheless, including that the groups that found it earlier than the race ought to have instructed the organizers concerning the risks.
Ace sprinter Caleb Evans, considered one of Gilbert’s teammates on the Lotto-Soudal crew, collapsed close to the end line as he selected to dash and was compelled to go away with a damaged collarbone.
Two of the yellow jersey’s prime contenders – final 12 months’s runner-up, Primoz Rogic, and 2018 champion Geraint Thomas – have been concerned in accidents on Monday, shedding to their principal rivals. But they fell on the straight roads with out a lot problem and they didn’t blame the organisers.
Saturday’s opening stage consisted of two massive piles, one by spectators holding a cardboard signal on their method to the peloton.
Calling for a change within the sport with out providing an answer, veteran Groupma-FDJ sporting director Marc Madiot known as on all stakeholders to take their accountability “because if we don’t do this, we will die and I will be hurting the family.” Don’t wish to name. Of the rider who shall be within the hospital eternally. It’s not value our sport.”
The final rider to die on the Tour was Fabio Casaratelli, an Italian from Lance Armstrong’s then-Motorola crew, who crashed in 1995 on a descent from the Porte d’Espet cross. Several severe accidents have continued to have an effect on the race.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
