Visma - Lease A Bike boss Richard Plugge furious after Dauphine crash: "Would this happen in F1?"
Cycling
Visma | Lease a Bike team manager Richard Plugge has expressed his dissatisfaction on social media about the safety measurements of the organization of the Critérium du Dauphiné after a massive crash saw the fifth stage neutralized with many riders badly wounded.
"Would this happen in F1? Or would the safety organisation take measures upfront?" Plugge says critically upon seeing the video showing half the peloton falling.
This statement is surprising and in contrary with what other involved team managers said. Patrick Lefevere (Soudal - Quick-Step) and Rolf Aldag (BORA - hansgrohe) noted that a fall like this is difficult to prevent and that according to them, no one was to blame.
Plugge did see two of his riders, Steven Kruijswijk and Dylan van Baarle, among the major victims. Both Dutchmen had to be taken to hospital in an ambulance and 2024 Tour de France isn't on their schedule for the rest of this year anymore.
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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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Would this happen in F1? Or would the safety organisation take measures upfront?
Une vidéo d'un spectateur montre bien l'impressionnante chute survenue lors de la 5e étape du Critérium du #Dauphiné, avec de nombreux coureurs qui ont glissé sur la route transformée en sorte de patinoire. 📹 via @keyshawn__bava
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