INTERVIEW: Magnus Cort Nielsen ponders rider safety after winning crash-marred Gran Camiño sprint: "I don't know in 30 years if it's acceptable that people sometimes die"
Cycling
Despite the lack of out-and-out sprinters in the field at O Gran Camiño 2025, the opening stage did indeed finish in a bunch sprint. Taking things long, Uno-X Mobility's Magnus Cort Nielsen showed incredible strength in the finale to hold on for the stage win. Afterwards, he spoke to CyclingUpToDate to share his post-stage thoughts.
A little behind the Dane, a yet another bunch sprint crash ended the hopes of a few of the peloton's fastmen, something that is sadly becoming a regular occurrence in races. "It's hard for me to comment on today, I don't know what has happened," assesses the stage winner. "But of course, the speed is going up now, we get better and equipment and also both training and nutrition, so the speed is rising."
"Maybe, the roads are getting more dangerous. They're getting safer and safer for cars to drive on, but that doesn't make good roads for bike racing. Here, they have a lot of small holes that can be difficult to see from a bike in the middle of a bunch," he continues. "It's very dangerous to race on roads like that with a bicycle."
The topic of rider safety in the peloton has arguably never been a more discussed one than in 2025. With that in mind, we asked Magnus Cort Nielsen if there was one thing he could change to make cycling safer, what would it be?
"It's a good question. And I think long-term, safety is a major issue within cycling," he answers after taking a short moment to ponder his response. "If you crash at high speed and hit something that's really standing still, this is when people die and I don't know in 30 years if it's acceptable that people sometimes die."
"But to remove that, that would require changes as I don't really see how that's possible to do," the Dane concludes thoughtfully. "You would need a whole different way of setting up a race, which is not possible when you race from A to B on normal street roads."
Stage 1 - O Gran Camiño 2025
| 1 | Cort Magnus | Uno-X Mobility | 04:18:49 |
| 2 | Mesa Santiago | Efapel Cycling | + 00 |
| 3 | Lonardi Giovanni | Team Polti VisitMalta | + 00 |
| 4 | Cavia Daniel | Burgos Burpellet BH | + 00 |
| 5 | Warlop Jordi | Soudal Quick-Step | + 00 |
| 6 | Peñuela Francisco | Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | + 00 |
| 7 | Macias Cesar | Petrolike | + 00 |
| 8 | Canal Carlos | Movistar Team | + 00 |
| 9 | Prieto José Juan | Petrolike | + 00 |
| 10 | Magli Filippo | VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè | + 00 |
| 11 | Matias João | Tavfer - Ovos Matinados - Mortágua | + 00 |
| 12 | Trueba Sergio | Illes Balears Arabay Cycling | + 00 |
| 13 | Fagundez Eric | Burgos Burpellet BH | + 00 |
| 14 | Sainbayar Jambaljamts | Burgos Burpellet BH | + 00 |
| 15 | Pesenti Thomas | Soudal Quick-Step | + 00 |
| 16 | Rota Raul | Radio Popular - Paredes - Boavista | + 00 |
| 17 | Lima Daniel | Israel-Premier Tech | + 00 |
| 18 | Silva Pedro | Anicolor - Tien21 Cycling Team | + 00 |
| 19 | Alustiza Nicolas | Euskaltel-Euskadi | + 00 |
| 20 | Nilsson-Julien Oscar | Groupama-FDJ | + 00 |
| 21 | Diaz Alex | Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | + 00 |
| 22 | Fernández Garcia Samuel | Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | + 00 |
| 23 | Arcas Jorge | Movistar Team | + 00 |
| 24 | Cobo Ivan | Equipo Kern Pharma | + 00 |
| 25 | Barbas Rafael | Tavfer - Ovos Matinados - Mortágua | + 00 |
| 26 | Salgueiro Miguel | AP Hotels & Resorts - Tavira - SC Farense | + 00 |
| 27 | Goncalves Helder | Radio Popular - Paredes - Boavista | + 00 |
| 28 | Molenaar Alex | Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | + 00 |
| 29 | Rochas Rémy | Groupama-FDJ | + 00 |
| 30 | Prieto De Luna Jose Antonio | Petrolike | + 00 |
| 31 | Soenens Viktor | Soudal Quick-Step | + 00 |
| 32 | Fonte Cesar | Radio Popular - Paredes - Boavista | + 00 |
| 33 | Bugge Martin Urianstad | Uno-X Mobility | + 00 |
| 34 | Ponomar Andrii | Petrolike | + 00 |
| 35 | Dversnes Fredrik | Uno-X Mobility | + 00 |
| 36 | Pescador Diego | Movistar Team | + 00 |
| 37 | Campos Francisco | AP Hotels & Resorts - Tavira - SC Farense | + 00 |
| 38 | Maestri Mirco | Team Polti VisitMalta | + 00 |
| 39 | Clarke Simon | Israel-Premier Tech | + 00 |
| 40 | Marcellusi Martin | VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè | + 00 |
| 41 | Gee Derek | Israel-Premier Tech | + 00 |
| 42 | Vansevenant Mauri | Soudal Quick-Step | + 00 |
| 43 | Turconi Filippo | VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè | + 00 |
| 44 | Piganzoli Davide | Team Polti VisitMalta | + 00 |
| 45 | Ganzabal Ander | Euskaltel-Euskadi | + 00 |
| 46 | Houle Hugo | Israel-Premier Tech | + 00 |
| 47 | Braz Afonso Clément | Groupama-FDJ | + 00 |
| 48 | Ariño Bolinches Gonzalo | Illes Balears Arabay Cycling | + 00 |
| 49 | Paletti Luca | VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè | + 00 |
| 50 | Fernandez Ruben | Anicolor - Tien21 Cycling Team | + 00 |
| 51 | Covili Luca | VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè | + 00 |
| 52 | Decomble Maxime | Groupama-FDJ | + 00 |
| 53 | Burnett Josh | Burgos Burpellet BH | + 00 |
| 54 | Chumil Sergio | Burgos Burpellet BH | + 00 |
| 55 | Fernandez Delio | AP Hotels & Resorts - Tavira - SC Farense | + 00 |
| 56 | Fernandez Sinuhé | Burgos Burpellet BH | + 00 |
| 57 | D'Aiuto Filippo | Petrolike | + 00 |
| 58 | Carvalho Goncalo | Tavfer - Ovos Matinados - Mortágua | + 00 |
| 59 | Daumas Rémi | Groupama-FDJ | + 00 |
| 60 | Savino Federico | Soudal Quick-Step | + 00 |
| 61 | Lasa Ailetz | AP Hotels & Resorts - Tavira - SC Farense | + 00 |
| 62 | Marin Aragón Jose | Illes Balears Arabay Cycling | + 00 |
| 63 | Callejas Alejandro | Petrolike | + 00 |
| 64 | Tercero Fernando | Team Polti VisitMalta | + 00 |
| 65 | Silva Afonso | AP Hotels & Resorts - Tavira - SC Farense | + 00 |
| 66 | Caicedo Jonathan | Petrolike | + 00 |
| 67 | Murguialday Jokin | Euskaltel-Euskadi | + 00 |
| 68 | Martinez Garcia Victor | Anicolor - Tien21 Cycling Team | + 00 |
| 69 | Kulset Johannes | Uno-X Mobility | + 00 |
| 70 | Kron Andreas | Uno-X Mobility | + 00 |
| 71 | Cepeda Jefferson | Movistar Team | + 00 |
| 72 | Servranckx Gauthier | Soudal Quick-Step | + 00 |
| 73 | Oliveira Nelson | Movistar Team | + 00 |
| 74 | Sagrado Perez Alvaro | Illes Balears Arabay Cycling | + 00 |
| 75 | Scalco Matteo | VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè | + 00 |
| 76 | Tolio Alex | VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè | + 00 |
| 77 | Reis Rafael | Anicolor - Tien21 Cycling Team | + 00 |
| 78 | Silva Joaquim | Efapel Cycling | + 00 |
| 79 | Tonelli Alessandro | Team Polti VisitMalta | + 00 |
| 80 | Balderstone Abel | Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | + 00 |
| 81 | Pinto Pedro | Efapel Cycling | + 00 |
| 82 | Dalby Simon | Uno-X Mobility | + 00 |
| 83 | Lopes Lucas | Radio Popular - Paredes - Boavista | + 00 |
| 84 | Sevilla Diego | Team Polti VisitMalta | + 00 |
| 85 | Marti Pau | Israel-Premier Tech | + 00 |
| 86 | Wood Harrison | Anicolor - Tien21 Cycling Team | + 00 |
| 87 | Castellon Jan | Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | + 00 |
| 88 | Peña Jesus David | AP Hotels & Resorts - Tavira - SC Farense | + 00 |
| 89 | Pietrobon Andrea | Team Polti VisitMalta | + 00 |
| 90 | Leal Tiago | Radio Popular - Paredes - Boavista | + 00 |
| 91 | Swirbul Keegan | Efapel Cycling | + 00 |
| 92 | Okamika Ander | Burgos Burpellet BH | + 00 |
| 93 | Esparza Unai | Illes Balears Arabay Cycling | + 00 |
| 94 | Wenzel Mats | Equipo Kern Pharma | + 28 |
| 95 | Knox James | Soudal Quick-Step | + 28 |
| 96 | Fuglsang Jakob | Israel-Premier Tech | + 28 |
| 97 | Torres Albert | Movistar Team | + 28 |
| 98 | Løland Sakarias Koller | Uno-X Mobility | + 29 |
| 99 | Frigo Marco | Israel-Premier Tech | + 29 |
| 100 | Pedrero Antonio | Movistar Team | + 29 |
| 101 | Carvalho André | Efapel Cycling | + 29 |
| 102 | Arriola-Bengoa Julen | Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | + 29 |
| 103 | Agirre Jon | Euskaltel-Euskadi | + 53 |
| 104 | Berrade Urko | Equipo Kern Pharma | + 01:03 |
| 105 | Retegi Mikel | Equipo Kern Pharma | + 01:06 |
| 106 | Gonzalez Asier Pablo | Illes Balears Arabay Cycling | + 01:06 |
| 107 | Moreira Mauricio | Efapel Cycling | + 01:06 |
| 108 | Bock Max | Groupama-FDJ | + 01:06 |
| 109 | Lopez Jordi | Euskaltel-Euskadi | + 01:06 |
| 110 | Ruiz Ibon | Equipo Kern Pharma | + 01:17 |
| 111 | Aznar Unai | Equipo Kern Pharma | + 01:23 |
| 112 | Azanza Ibai | Equipo Kern Pharma | + 01:34 |
| 113 | Llaneras Pau | Illes Balears Arabay Cycling | + 01:34 |
| 114 | Castro Pinto Pedro | Efapel Cycling | + 01:34 |
| 115 | Cañellas Xavier | Anicolor - Tien21 Cycling Team | + 01:46 |
| 116 | Juaristi Txomin | Euskaltel-Euskadi | + 02:10 |
| 117 | Mintegi Iker | Euskaltel-Euskadi | + 02:10 |
| 118 | Dejesus Lois | Tavfer - Ovos Matinados - Mortágua | + 05:04 |
| 119 | Alves Francisco | Tavfer - Ovos Matinados - Mortágua | + 07:54 |
| 120 | Mestre Guilherme | AP Hotels & Resorts - Tavira - SC Farense | + 07:54 |
| 121 | Sánchez Ángel | Tavfer - Ovos Matinados - Mortágua | + 07:56 |
| 122 | Barbio Antonio | Tavfer - Ovos Matinados - Mortágua | + 07:56 |
| 123 | Nych Artem | Anicolor - Tien21 Cycling Team | + 07:56 |
| 124 | Dias Daniel | Radio Popular - Paredes - Boavista | + 07:56 |
| 125 | Álvarez Alberto | Radio Popular - Paredes - Boavista | + 07:56 |
Magnus Cort WINS the opening stage of O Gran Camino in style! ✨ pic.twitter.com/GWpRQalKO6
— Eurosport (@eurosport) February 26, 2025
I just looked at the video on this. It looked like a piece of advertising came off the fence and caused the crash. So, this is a crash that should never happened.
And one more so far this year which has nothing to do with rider equipment or behaviour! As for Magnus’ statement, maybe he’s too young to remember but once upon a time you’d find a whole bunch of straw bales in danger spots and they were very effective at reducing impacts. But maybe our love of plastic consumption and bright colours put pressure on organisers to substitute most with cones and tape?
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