"Things will have to change. It is the riders who are still suffering from negligence" - Philippe Gilbert on Vuelta a Burgos second stage crash

Philippe Gilbert has come forward to discuss safety concerns after the crash in the second stage of Vuelta a Burgos. Gilbert is also the representative of UCI's Athletes Commission.

He says a proposal to check the course before the race was submitted, but UCI has not responded to it yet. "I have asked the UCI to establish a protocol whereby courses are checked and approved in advance, especially at finishes. Unfortunately, this has still not happened," Gilbert wrote on his social media post.

The second stage of the Vuelta a Burgos saw a massive crash in the final kilometer due to a speed bump. David Dekker was the primary victim and went down hard on the ground; this caused other riders to crash over each other. Race organizers deny any responsibility and blame Dekker for not being cautious enough, which has also caused major backlash.

Gilbert disagrees with the organizer's decision. “I would like to extend heartfelt sympathy to all riders who crashed at the Vuelta a Burgos. I defend the safety of the riders and disapprove of this state of affairs," wrote Gilbert on Twitter.

He assures riders things will change soon as he continues to build pressure for his proposal. "Things will have to change. It is the riders who are still suffering from negligence. It is time to take such safety issues seriously," concluded Gilbert.