“What is 500 euros if you can prevent deaths with it?” – Stefan Kung offers an interesting solution to cycling’s safety concerns

Groupama-FDJ’s Stefan Kung has brought renewed attention to the ongoing conversation about safety in professional cycling, particularly during the Flanders Classics. The Swiss rider, who won his first grand tour stage this year at the Vuelta, shared his thoughts with Sporza, proposing potential solutions to mitigate the risks that riders face.

Kung drew an interesting parallel to another high-risk sport, skiing, to highlight the need for innovation. “At one point, the international ski federation FIS wanted to require all skiers to wear an airbag in competitions. But I read that many skiers then requested an exemption because they were concerned about the functioning of the system. They feared that they could injure their neck when the airbag inflates,” Küng explained.

Despite the initial resistance in skiing, Kung believes such a concept could have potential in cycling if implemented correctly. “If an airbag really works and becomes mandatory in the race, it could be a solution,” he suggested. “It will cost money. But what is 500 euros if you can prevent serious injuries or even deaths with it?”

The Swiss rider also pointed to the persistent dangers on some of the sport's most iconic routes, including the approach to the Oude Kwaremont, a decisive climb in races like the Tour of Flanders. Kung expressed concern about the high speeds and narrow margins for error on this section.

“But the approach to the Oude Kwaremont is actually exactly the same,” Küng observed. “At 80 to 90 km/h we fly over a fast and wide road, on a descent. If two riders were to touch each other with their wheels there, thirty riders would fall to the ground with the impact. The same goes for the descent towards Ronse.”

This high-speed descent, combined with the competitive jostling for position, has long been a cause of concern among riders. While some improvements have been made, such as the removal of the dangerous Kanarieberg from the Dwars door Vlaanderen route, Küng suggests more changes are needed to ensure safety.

Küng believes that finding alternative routes could be one solution, though he acknowledges the logistical challenges posed by the geography of the Flemish Ardennes. “We have to ask ourselves if there are other possible routes,” he stated. “But the climbs in the Flemish Ardennes are very close together, so there are not many alternatives. It is a difficult topic.”