“You don’t get the feeling that feedback makes a big difference”: Slovenian sprinter calls for public rider protests to drive improvements in cycling safety

Matevz Govekar believes professional cycling may need more visible demonstrations from riders to push safety concerns higher up the agenda. The Bahrain - Victorious sprinter argues that private feedback does not always translate into meaningful changes, whereas public protests can attract media attention and put pressure on race organizers and the wider sport.

Speaking on the Domestique Hotseat, the Slovenian discussed the five-minute stoppage at Il Lombardia in October, when the peloton refused to begin racing in response to a series of dangerous incidents involving vehicles on race routes.

The protest followed a delivery van entering the course at Coppa Bernocchi and a collision between two riders and a police motorcycle travelling in the opposite direction at Tre Valli Varesine.

The demonstration also came in the wake of the death of 19-year-old Finlay Tarling, who was killed in a collision with a vehicle during the Volta a Portugal in August. At Il Lombardia, Remco Evenepoel addressed the crowd in Bergamo on behalf of the riders, demanding better guarantees that competitors could race without vehicles entering the course.

For Govekar, the incident showed why riders sometimes need to take their concerns beyond the usual channels.

“There are many people trying to improve things who say that cyclists have to be more vocal,” he said. “They want us to be vocal with feedback, but you don’t get the feeling that this feedback actually makes a big difference. When the races are stopped, like it was in Lombardia, there is a bigger media impact behind it. In the end the media has an impact, and that’s how it should be.”

The Slovenian is unsure whether the Il Lombardia demonstration will lead to more protests in the future. “Maybe these protests are helping, maybe they are not really,” he said. “If incidents like that keep happening, I can imagine they will continue, and if things get better, they will stop.”

While securing race routes remains a complicated challenge, Govekar also sees potential in improving the protective equipment available to riders. “I’m not saying I would wear knee pads or elbow pads, but the airbags that are starting to be developed could add a big positive benefit,” Govekar said.

The Slovenian compared the possible introduction of airbags with the adoption of helmets, which initially faced resistance from riders before becoming compulsory in professional road racing in 2003.

“Riders didn’t wear helmets because they were hot. Nowadays, when you have a full aero helmet and it’s super hot outside, you feel it’s five degrees hotter inside. Maybe at first there will be races where you say it was unbearable to have an airbag on your jersey. But you need to start somewhere, and then the product will improve.”

Govekar's experience at the Tour of Guangxi, his final race of the 2026 season, offered another perspective on the issue. He praised the road closures and traffic management in China, but identified the sprint finishes as particularly demanding and dangerous.

“You easily reach 60km/h even without descending,” he said. “These sprints in China are super hectic. You come into the sprint ten guys in one line, and there are quite a lot of elbows.”

Govekar hopes the ongoing debate will lead to gradual improvements across the sport. “There is a lot of discussion going on, and I hope it improves,” he concluded. “It always has to be a process that keeps getting better.”