The 2022 race season is drawing to a close but calls for the UCI to take action on dangerous race courses show no sign of abating as the recently completed CRO Race becomes the latest event to come in for criticism.
The very technical final six kilometres of stage 6 of the Croatian race into Zagreb city centre included various un-barriered sections where riders could weave their way past spectators and small anti-parking bollards on the pavement.
There were also traffic islands, and even a segment of tramway incorporated into a semi-pedestrianised street, bringing with it the danger of tyres falling into the narrow tram tracks.
Nobody was injured or crashed as a result of the obstacles, although stage 4 winner Axel Laurance (B&B Hotels-KTM) fell heavily in an unrelated incident and could not dispute the sprint, won from a 14-man group by Elia Viviani (Ineos Grenadiers) after the peloton shattered in the very tricky finale.
However, both former riders and Jumbo-Visma’s Jos van Emden highlighted the risks, and what they see as a lack of action over these seemingly perennial issues.
“Once again the UCI is being the UCI. Not only today [Sunday] but three out of six stages were way over the limit. David Lappartient how do you think it’s going” Van Emden wrote in a Tweet.
Once again the @UCI_cycling is being the UCI. Not only today but 3 out of 6 stages where way over the limit.@DLappartient how do you think it’s going? https://t.co/4VQOmqfe2iOctober 2, 2022
He then added another comment about how this would be the first and last time he took part in the race.
Looks good right? @DLappartient First time and last time #CRORace pic.twitter.com/du998b4i0sOctober 2, 2022
Van Emden was responding to another Tweet by former sports director and former rider Johan Bruyneel, who commented: “Great to see the UCI is making rider safety one of its priorities these days. Look at this finishing circuit in final stage of Tour of Croatia today. WTF???”
Great to see that @UCI_cycling is making the riders’ safety one of their priorities nowadays. Look at this finishing circuit in final stage of Tour of Croatia 🇭🇷 today. WTF??!? pic.twitter.com/QN2iPoHDOROctober 2, 2022
Another retired rider, Rory Sutherland, was equally sceptical that there had been any improvements in the last few years, saying: “Since I stopped racing 2 years ago, nothing has changed. It has even gotten worse. How was this ever okay?”
I will say, I watched last night and was…
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