"When racing, you should not look at what is happening on your computer" - Marc Madiot feels like riders have become "too robotized" in their approach to racing

Rider safety is being intensely discussed among the cycling authorities since the beginning of this season. Groupama - FDJ boss Marc Madiot sees the increase in rate of hard crashes as combination of multiple factors. While some of them can hardly be changed, such as riders fighting for positions in run-in to key parts of races, others can be directly influenced. Speaking to L'Equipe, Madiot thinks UCI should act and accept changes to equipment that would be protect the riders, even if it would come in the cost of slightly worse performances.

According to him the organizers are not to blame. "they are doing the right thing," but it is the equipment that needs to be rethought, in particular the power meters. "We have robotized the riders, without realizing it, at home included. When racing, you should not look at what is happening on your computer," he laments. The solution? "We hide it. It would also allow us to have a certain form of intelligence on the bike, because today we have manufactured robots which no longer have any initiative."

Regarding earpieces, Madiot doesn't really mind allowing them, but it should only serve one purpose. "It should be the same for everyone, that is to say a racing radio which announces danger."

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In the words of the manager, the bike itself also needs to be reviewed: "I would like to tell you, we need to go back to disc brakes, that would be ideal. There is something stupid that can be done easily, it's the bike's steering axis. Today, the guys sit straight on the bikes, so as soon as there is an unevenness, they take it in the face. There's more room to maneuver." He adds: "Why not ask engineers, independent, from another sport, what would you do to slow down the bikes? And the handlebars? They are more and more restricted, closed."

"And why not heavier and less aero bikes? I think we're a little ridiculous, to be honest." But the manager regrets the few who are alarmed, "there is no one who says now: stop." And puts this responsibility on the shoulders of UCI president David Lappartient. As for the independent entity SafeR, responsible for improving the safety of runners, Madiot does not believe in it. "Nothing is going to happen. We are damaging our sport, we are highlighting riders who fall, we are filming them up close. We see Van Aert and Vingegaard on stretchers. There are families behind. You realize we are there?"

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