Sep Vanmarcke suggests restricting use of bike computers in races to improve safety: "Riders are looking at their computer instead of what's going on next to them"
Cycling
The calls for improved safety of cycling races have become loud and clear over the past 12 months and both UCI and race organizers are doing their best to satisfy the demands. Yet Sep Vanmarcke is not very content with the decision to remove Kanarieberg from the Dwars doors Vlaanderen course just because of last year's mass crash that involved Wout Van Aert among others.
"Nothing has ever happened on the Kanarieberg that was decisive for the race," he said at Sporza Daily. He believes the importance of this sector is simply overexaggerated while the center of the race lies elsewhere: "On the Oude Kwaremont, it was. You have to be at the front there."
On the security side of things, he is please with the work of organizers in Belgium: "Cycling is a dangerous sport and we can be proud of how we approach it in our country. Every race here is extremely well-secured. They can learn something from this abroad. But in the crash in Dwars door Vlaanderen it was simply a situation where the wheel was tapped and that will happen again," says Vanmarcke.
Rather than change the courses, the Belgian would like into the behaviour in peloton and the way riders approach racing. "It is too easy to always nag the organizers from the sidelines. And it is also too easy to always point the finger at the UCI," believes the former podium-finisher at Tour of Flanders.
"I can certainly list 5 things that could improve the problem. Next month I have a meeting with the UCI where I can discuss my ideas. I don't know if they will do anything about it, but then I will have done everything myself," says Vanmarcke.
"You're not allowed to look at your phone in the car, while riders are constantly staring at that screen on their bike in front of them. You're looking at the route on that screen, but you miss a colleague's manoeuvre. People even fall on the climb because they're looking at the wattages and the screen on a climb. Only show kilometres and time there," he thinks out loud.
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Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses 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.
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- They do this but literally let cars on courses to run over riders.mij07-11-2026
- Looking at that photo she appears to be several feet from her. I’m not sure how that impeded brands sprint.mij07-11-2026
- I hope you are wrong but I suspect you will be proved correct. It might do something for Scottish tourism - although due to logistics the route skips the most spectacular parts of Scotland. It will bring in short term money no doubt, but will cycling overall in the U,K benifit? I doubt it. Even at £2 a litre the bits love thei cars,Cyclingsbestfan07-11-2026
- Lucky to not get disqualified
leedorney07-11-2026 - The road from Holyrood to Edinburgh Castle is a nice steady climb of just over a mile that is cobbled in many parts. (Very slippery if wet!) If the teams are going by one by one that will give fans an even better view of the riders up close than the castle esplanade.Cyclingsbestfan07-11-2026
- wtf dudemij07-11-2026
- big rival … ridiculous.Ketterechts07-11-2026
- It would be great if the World Champion's jersey could be rotated among McNulty, Simmons, and Jorgenson. They threaded the needle perfectly. If each hadn't done exactly what he did, exactly when he did it, the race would have gone to one of the more heralded superstars. That said, how nice that this humble and hardworking guy gets his moment in the sun.
MarkFour07-11-2026 - 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
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