"This has to be banned" - CPA chief Adam Hansen demands rule change after controversial TV coverage of Itzulia Basque Country crash
CyclingThursday, 04 April 2024 at 20:30
The massive crash in the peloton that left the likes of Jonas Vingegaard, Remco Evenepoel and Primoz Roglic laying in pain at the roadside was repeated over and over in the near-half an hour time period the race was neutralised for riders to receive treatment.
The decision by those in charge of the TV coverage to repeat the footage has drawn heavy criticism across social media, especially given the serious nature of the crash and the fact that the condition of the riders involved was still unclear as the crash was being repeated.
Adam Hansen, president of the CPA took to X (Twitter) himself and pleaded for a rule change to stop such images being reshown in future. "Out of respect of riders that have fallen in a crash and their families at home. The CPA does not support TV coverage to continue to film them while they are down," Hansen writes. "Riders have reached out to me asking if we can make this a rule and we support that. Please be mindful."
When pointed out by a reply, that replays are always shown after crashes, Hansen clarified his comments with a measured response. "They always repeat. But in this case, the race was neutralised for 20 minutes, and it was 20 minutes over and over of showing images of riders, and at the same time, I have pros at home messaging me," he explains. "This has to be banned."
claps 2visitors 2
Just in
Subscribe to our Daily Newsletter today!
May 12, 11:09
0
Popular news
Latest comments
- “And now, Visma try to take on a task that no team has ever been able to achieve before: Beat Tadej Pogacar at the Tour de France.” Odd sentence considering the fact that Visma has already beaten Pogacar twice at the Tour de France 🤔 Care to explain?Phil9804-06-2025
- Even if he's on the form of his life, João Almeida's not going to be a Tour de France contender when Tadej Pogacar is on the same team.
santiagobenites04-06-2025 - Totally agreed. He should escape UAE’s golden handcuffs. In many other teams he would be the outright leader.mobk04-06-2025
- 14 wins in 4.5 years is not exactly nothing! Plus some pretty prestigious podiums. All at the age of 22. Kid needs to get some maturity, but talent is not missing.mobk04-06-2025
- If he can match his form of the 2023 Tour he will have a chance, the problem is he's 28 now and Tadej will always be two years his junior. Jonas will come strong though for sure.awp04-06-2025
- Can't take to Ayuso despite him being my Giro tip. There's just something I can't pinpoint about the way he rides or his demeanour or his work rate for the team that I don't get. The perception on marginalisation is possible but how much is of his own doing. If he's not content he should waive his big contract and find some peace somewhere elseslappers6604-06-2025
- MR - I'm not taking issue with the details just the overall factors involved 👍
leedorney04-06-2025 - He certainly likes to be numero unos - verbally 😁leedorney04-06-2025
- The problem with Ayuso is he shouts for leadership yet the only thing performing is his mouth...leedorney04-06-2025
- Why do either of them have to "prove" anything?? We know Tadej will retire as the GOAT but Remco and Jonas have their chances too. I don't see either dethroning Tadej, he'll come into the next few weeks as ready as he'll ever be to win the Tour, it'll take something mind blowing or illegal to beat him.slappers6604-06-2025
This is a bit too whiny for my sake. Yes, it's not pleasant to see riders like this and I'm sure the riders don't like it either. However, they are in the business of entertainment and they live a public life when they are racing, so this is the price they pay.
There are good things about showing the results of crashes:
1. We see just how "hard" these guys are. They look skinny and weak, but they are tough as nails.
2. We respect why they earn the money they make. The risk is inherent in this sport.
3. People watching this from the couch are disincentivized to try to copy the professionals and the speed they race at.
The coverage of crashes likely saves people's lives!
Name me another sport where the show goes on as normal in this way when just about all the favourites end up in hospital from one incident?
I don’t know one, except maybe Rollerball, if it already exists in real life.
Even tennis does show real stuff
Adam Hansen makes an excellent point. The coverage DID seem to linger on the fallen riders a lot longer than what we normally see, which just made it all the more upsetting to watch.
Yes, he is right even though he was not the first to say so but I guess as an authority it counts more.
On the other hand, what and how will have to be specified a little better, especially in this day and age when accountability becomes ever harder to stick onto anyone.
Maybe there should be guidelines for alternative coverage during that time because obviously there’s not much else left to show in such situations.
There was nothing else to show. The race was neutralized. This is the only logical result of the neutralization.
If this will be the thing that show that how dangerous the sport can be, when things go horribly wrong, nothing will!