Cycling: The drivers' union CPA will present the UCI with a safety concept that has been worked out together with the drivers and the national federations. In addition to the long-running topic of escort vehicles, there is also a lot of space for the sometimes dangerous route, especially in the final kilometers.
At least since the big crash caused by two accompanying motorcycles at the Tour of Belgium last weekend, since the Lotto Soudal pro Stig Broeckx has been in a coma, the discussion about the safety of the professional cyclists during the race has flared up again. The drivers' union CPA has now developed a new safety concept that deals, among other things, with the issue of escort vehicles. Representatives of the CPA will discuss this concept with the UCI today and ask for it to be implemented as soon as possible.
[newsbox style=”nb2″ title=”background” display=”tag” tag=”support vehicles, motorcycle, support motorcycle, support vehicle” number_of_posts=”5″ nb_excerpt=”0″ sub_categories=”no” show_more=”no” post_type= "post Office"]The CPA divides the 'Escort Vehicles' chapter into six sub-categories:
- Driver training and experience: The UCI should ensure that there are additional opportunities for drivers to acquire proof of their skills - be it on the basis of the race days or by completing training courses and further education seminars. Furthermore, this system should apply to all drivers: whether they are escort motorcycles, the police, race organizers, advertising vehicles, etc.
- Incident identification and reporting system: In the future, all drivers of escort vehicles should have clearly recognizable numbers with which they can be identified. This is intended to enable professionals or other team members to report careless and dangerous behavior by drivers to the UCI, even if, fortunately, this should not lead to a fall. The association can then take the appropriate steps.
- Speed limits: Motorcycles and other vehicles are allowed to overtake drivers with a maximum speed difference of 10 km/h
- alternative roads: If possible, motorcycles should be allowed to pass the peloton on secondary roads.
- Peloton size: A reduction in the number of drivers was also discussed again and again. According to the CPA, however, whether such a measure makes sense must first be proven by investigations and studies.
- Number of escort motorcycles: Although a maximum limit for escort motorcycles has been raised time and again, the majority of riders and CPAs have opposed it. Since a large proportion of motorcycles serve to ensure the safety of the riders, a reduction would probably lead to an additional hazard.
In addition to the cause of escort vehicles, the safety concept also deals with the routing of the last 3km before the finish of a race or a stage. Especially in recent years, drivers have repeatedly criticized an unnecessarily dangerous route in the already hectic final phases. In order to prevent this in the future, the CPA proposes that the route of the last 3km should be approved by the UCI, the AIGCP and the CPA at least 30 days before the start of the race. Further measures such as the consistent removal and defusing of obstacles should also be anchored in the rules of the world association.
[accordions type=”toggle” handle=”arrows” space=”no” icon_color=”#” icon_current_color=”#”]