Disaster after disaster: From the Tour de la Provence to Etoile de Bessèges, the UCI and cycling refuse to learn their lesson
Cycling
It’s only February 17th, and the UCI has already endured a
series of moments they would rather forget. With the 2025 season still in its
infancy, several safety disasters have put the governing body under immense
scrutiny once again, raising serious questions about their ability to protect
riders in professional cycling.
Let’s take a look at the current state of safety in cycling,
and give an overview of the disastrous start to 2025 in terms of improving rider’s
safety.
Coming into 2025, there was a renewed focus on improving
rider safety, prompted by alarming incidents in previous seasons. Over the past
few seasons, cycling has sadly lost riders such as Muriel Furrer and Andre Drege,
and several others also in competition or during training.
The UCI introduced several new measures last summer in an
attempt to improve conditions for riders, including the yellow card. However,
just weeks into the new season, the effectiveness of these changes is already
being called into question.
A significant part of the issue is the UCI’s continued
deflection of blame onto riders. According to a report published earlier this
year, the governing body and its safety partner, SafeR, claimed that rider
errors accounted for 35% of race incidents.
This statistic has been widely criticised, with many arguing
that it shifts focus away from the structural and organisational failures that
contribute to these dangerous situations.
Safety failures to kick off 2025
Despite the UCI’s promises, the opening months of the season
have already been plagued by serious safety incidents. One of the most alarming
occurred last week at the Étoile de Bessèges, where a car entered the
racecourse midway through stage 6, causing several teams to withdraw in
protest.
The reaction from the UCI has been mixed, with the governing
body promising a “thorough investigation” and hinting at severe fines and
increased supervision for race organisers. However, some race organisers have
pushed back, arguing that teams are demanding more than is feasible. Really? Is
a professional cycling team demanding no pedestrian cars on the course whilst
the peloton is riding through really ‘unfeasible?’
Riders and team managers, meanwhile, have voiced their
frustrations over the continued dangers they face on the road. Ralph Denk, head
of Red Bull BORA, criticised race organisers for failing to consider rider
safety, stating, “No rider wants to end up in a ditch with broken bones. Race
organisers need to remember cycling is not a video game.”
Visma boss Richard Plugge also weighed in, warning that the
sport must stop cutting corners when it comes to safety. “Safety must be
without compromise,” Plugge insisted firmly.
Tour de la Provence
Just yesterday, another shocking moment occurred when Pascal
Ackermann crashed after hitting a pedestrian crossing in the closing metres of
a sprint finish.
This latest incident has only added to the growing outrage.
Former pro Johan Bruyneel delivered a scathing assessment of the UCI, stating,
“The big problem lies with the UCI.” He accused the governing body of failing
to hold organisers accountable, instead opting to deflect blame elsewhere.
Amidst all the controversy, the UCI has taken at least one
commendable step by officially banning the use of carbon monoxide rebreathing,
a controversial practice believed to offer riders a competitive edge but at
significant health risks. While this move has been welcomed, it does little to
address the immediate other safety concerns currently overshadowing the sport.
With the season still in its early stages, the UCI faces
mounting pressure to take meaningful action before another tragedy occurs.
While rider safety measures have been introduced, the series of early-season
disasters has proven that the current system is not fit for purpose.
If the
governing body continues to deflect responsibility and fail to hold organisers
accountable, it risks further eroding trust among teams, riders, and fans
alike.
Cycling is a sport built on courage, but it should not come
at the cost of basic safety. It is time for change.
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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- This is a really interesting idea, which, if well prepared could even be very successful. Very little money needs to be involved for a first season and any success could lead to rapid interest from sponsors.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Hmmm, you seem to have a very convenient black and white view of things. Perhaps you haven’t been around much to discover how complex problems can become over time with people who know how to control, manipulate (or worse) others so gradually or subtly that you arrive at an irresolvable situation before you realise. This is how many inconveniences get introduced to the young, naïve, passionate or “desperate”, knowing they are not armed, protected or strong enough to defend themselves once it’s too late. Why do you think omerta culture is so widespread, why do you think so many people continue to go through so many awful things in life that others can’t understand anyone getting into? Life may be far more jolly for you but you would do well to understand (or reflect more on) the real world to refrain from being so quick to criticise those in a hard spot that may have genuine reason for speaking out.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Seriously do you think when somebody gets into a serious accident, the ambulance is called by the hurt person?🤦 there is always a buddy system in place for a risky job. police , firefighters etc so that if someone gets hurt, the other call that in.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I get the point totally. We live in the snowflake society where some riders forget they are getting paid to ride and get results. When they have a few issues they try to look outside of the real issue instead of themselves. It odd so many of the team are making no complaints and getting on with their job. If you do not like what you do find another job simples. Tough love as my mum would say.paultryan200207-11-2026
- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
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