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Chaotic scenes from a crash on degree 2 at Étoile de Bessèges have emerged that display the motive force of a automobile sparked a crash within the peloton.
The driving force used to be at the route going through the race with the oncoming peloton in sight and needed to opposite the auto backwards off the route onto an aspect side road to get out of the way in which.
Then again, the incident brought about an abrupt deceleration within the peloton, sparking a crash that introduced down a number of riders, together with Maxim Van Gils (Crimson Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe).
Van Gils used to be compelled to desert the race and has been taken to medical institution, consistent with a file by way of journalist Daniel Benson.
Crimson Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe has no longer but launched a scientific replace relating to Van Gils situation. Within the interview with Benson, the workforce’s sports activities director, Heinrich Haussler, described the incident, which came about on a slim street 17 kilometres from the end in Marguerittes.
“The whole peloton brakes, and the boys were just coming back from a mechanical, and they were at the back of the peloton. They just rode into the peloton, and Maxim crashed into the ditch,” Haussler said.
“In this race, there are cars everywhere, parked on the side of the road, and traffic. It’s dangerous. I’ll ask the other directors what went on because sometimes, in the heat of the moment, guys overreact or something.”
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Luca Guercilena, general manager of Lidl-Trek, told Tuttobici that the incident could have been much worse and blamed the sports organisations and governing bodies for “negligence”.
“If these days on the Etoile de Besseges some riders had died, we might be right here mourning! However although there have been only one harm because of the intense negligence of a pro group that can’t and will have to no longer move omitted,” Guercilena stated.
“The highest control of our recreation asks groups for million-dollar insurance coverage, after which we discover ourselves going through races the place roads aren’t closed! To not point out that if any person will get harm, the workforce at all times can pay, simply hoping nobody dies…”.
The fact that a car managed to get onto the course at the Etoile de Bessèges and caused the pile-up and Van Gils’ abandon highlights the need for urgency when it comes to rider safety at the races.
The incident at Etoile de Bessèges happened just after the UCI held a press conference updating the media on SafeR initiatives intended to improve safety.
The sport governing body, teams, riders and race organisers appeared to show a united front during the latest presentation of the SafeR project, insisting race and rider safety is slowly improving in professional cycling.
“We are all combating for the most productive for the game. We’ve other angles and issues of view however all of us need the races and the riders to be protected and crash much less,” President of the CPA, Adam Hansen, said.
Prétendant à la victoire sur l’Étoile de Bessèges, Maxim Van Gils (RedBull-Bora-Hansgrohe) a abandonné dans le final de la 2e étape. Selon son équipe, le Belge a chuté après le ralentissement dans le peloton, provoqué par une voiture à contresens. #EDB2025pic.twitter.com/Q4RcPVMtjhFebruary 6, 2025
