"The bikes break every time you fall" - Guillaume Martin and Marc Madiot on how equipment can make cycling safer

The topic of rider safety and how to best improve it in the peloton continues to be a big debate in modern cycling. As technology continues to improve, allowing riders to go faster than ever before, is more work needed on the safety aspect of the sport?

At the recent annual general meeting of the association of race organizers (AIOCC), Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme caused a bit of a stir with his comments on the topic of rider safety, when he said: "Beyond the behaviours of the athletes and the work of the organisers, it is absolutely necessary to reduce speed by appropriate measures: The riders are going too fast. The faster they go, the greater the risk and the more they endanger themselves and others."

As mentioned, these comments didn't go down too well with some in the sport. Most notably, EF Education - EasyPost boss Jonathan Vaughters lambasted Prudhomme. "#MakeRacingSlowAgain," Vaughters responded on X. "To be less glib: It is absolutely infuriating to me how these fat cats, who have never raced so much as a child’s tricycle, turning tens of millions in profit off the backs of others; squarely throw the blame of safety issues in cycling on the riders."

Now, Groupama - FDJ boss Marc Madiot and one of his team's star signings for the 2025 season, Guillaume Martin have addressed the debate in conversation with French media outlet, Le Parisien. “The equation is impossible,” Madiot admits. “The guys are riding faster and faster on terrain where everything is designed to slow down the vehicles. And downhill, it’s worse than anything. And since a lot of guys don’t want to understand anything, there’s only one solution: slow down the bikes."

In an attempt to prove his point, Madiot looks at the changes made in motorsport over recent years. “Formula 1 has never stopped restricting cars. Not only has it saved lives, but its spectacle has lost nothing. Honestly, is a race at an average of 48kph less exciting than one at 55kph?” Questions the experienced French team boss. 

Martin too believes the equipment itself might hold the key to improving safety. “The equipment allows you to go faster. I have the impression that the bikes break every time you fall, which means they are more violent," he says, also noting Formula 1. "We can do like in F1 where everyone has the same tyres. That way we wouldn’t have any differences in grip. We can choose a brand that isn’t hyper-efficient with tyres that make you go a little slower. From one tyre to another, the speed can vary by 3kph.”