Cycling has always been an inherently risky sport, but moments like these serve as stark reminders that more needs to be done to protect athletes. In response, the SafeR initiative – led by the Cyclistes Professionnels Associés (CPA) and backed by key stakeholders – has positioned itself as one of the sport’s most comprehensive safety efforts to date. With major race organisers like ASO, RCS, Unipublic, and Flanders Classics involved, the programme aims to set new standards, particularly by helping smaller event organisers implement best practices.
But how much progress has really been made, and what lessons can we take from SafeR’s approach?
A unifying effort in an oft-divided sport
Professional cycling is frequently fragmented when it comes to governance, financial models, and decision-making power. However, SafeR appears to be a rare instance where teams, riders, governing bodies, and race organisers are aligning their priorities. This coalition, which includes representatives from the UCI, AIOCC (Race Organizers’ Association), AIGCP (teams’ Association), and the CPA (riders’ Association), aims to create a unified approach to safety improvements.
SafeR was first introduced on the eve of the 2023 Tour de France, shortly after the tragic death of Gino Mäder at the Tour de Suisse. Since then, it has drawn up 27 key deliverables aimed at enhancing rider safety, from better race incident tracking to improved race route design. However, as recent events at Étoile de Bessèges demonstrate, translating these plans into tangible, on-the-road safety improvements remains a significant challenge.
Bridging the gap between large and small race organisers
One of the most crucial developments from SafeR’s new initiative is its plan to encourage major race organisers – RCS, Unipublic, ASO, and Flanders Classics – to share their expertise with smaller event organisers. Following the incidents at Étoile de Bessèges, the CPA emphasised that a fundamental issue in race safety is the disparity in organisational standards between top-tier and lower-tier races. While the biggest race organisers have well-developed safety protocols, smaller races often struggle with limited resources, expertise, and infrastructure.
This disparity in standards poses a significant risk to riders, who expect a consistent level of safety across all professional events. CPA President Adam Hansen reinforced this point, stating, “There should be no difference in the organisation of a race – only in the route and format.” By fostering collaboration between experienced and emerging race organisers, SafeR aims to create a baseline of safety measures that all races must meet. This initiative could be a game-changer in preventing avoidable accidents, particularly at smaller events where resources are stretched thin.
The potential impact of this initiative is immense. As the sport continues to expand, with more events added to the calendar each year, ensuring consistent safety standards will be crucial for rider welfare. If successful, this program could significantly reduce the inconsistencies that currently put cyclists at risk and elevate the overall professionalism of race organisations.
The scope of the problem: Who bears responsibility?
One of UCI’s key projects is the creation of a Race Incident Database, which has already analysed 497 incidents in 2024. The data suggests that 35% of crashes were caused by rider mistakes, while a staggering 41% were linked to race organisers in some capacity. Factors such as poor course design (13%), unsafe traffic infrastructure (9%), and spectator interference (1%) all contribute to the risks riders face. The remaining percentage includes unpredictable elements like weather conditions, but the data makes one thing clear: race organisers have a significant role to play in improving safety.
The initiative’s findings confirm what many in the sport have long suspected: crashes are often the result of a combination of factors rather than a single point of failure. Understanding these nuances is crucial to creating solutions that actually work, rather than simply pointing fingers when incidents occur.
The Étoile de Bessèges wake-up call
The footage of a car entering the race route at Étoile de Bessèges should be a wake-up call to the entire cycling community. Maxim Van Gils (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) was forced to abandon the race and required hospital treatment as a result of the crash. Later in the stage, Marc Brustenga (Equipo Kern Pharma) suffered a high-speed tyre blowout, another example of the unpredictability riders face.
These incidents are far from isolated. The 2024 season saw major crashes at Dwars door Vlaanderen and Itzulia Basque, resulting in serious injuries for WorldTour stars like Jonas Vingegaard, Remco Evenepoel, and Wout van Aert. Even more tragically, the death of Muriel Furrer at the Zurich World Championships reinforced just how dangerous the sport can be when safety measures fail.
What SafeR brings to the table
The initiative also introduces a yellow card system to penalise reckless riding and race behaviour. Other proposed measures include new sprinting regulations, mandatory use of race radios, and potential safety innovations such as rider airbags.
One particularly interesting proposal is the use of GPS tracking and real-time Race Control centres, similar to systems employed in motorsports. However, despite these ambitious plans, there remains a distinct lack of specificity and concrete timelines for implementation. Without clear deadlines and accountability, these ideas risk becoming little more than talking points rather than actual safety enhancements.
The challenges of implementation
Even with good intentions, SafeR faces significant hurdles. Cycling’s complex and decentralised structure means that enforcing safety improvements is far from straightforward. Unlike Formula 1 or MotoGP, where a single governing body sets and enforces safety standards, cycling has multiple entities with competing interests. While SafeR has done an admirable job of bringing these groups to the table, maintaining momentum and overcoming these challenges will be crucial.
Additionally, financial constraints are a major issue. Many smaller race organisers operate on tight budgets, making it difficult for them to implement costly safety upgrades. This is where the larger race organisers’ involvement will be critical. If SafeR is serious about bridging the gap, it must not only offer guidance but also provide resources and funding support.
The future of SafeR and race safety
Despite the obstacles, SafeR represents a step in the right direction. By creating a structured approach to safety improvements and fostering collaboration among key stakeholders, the initiative has the potential to bring lasting change. A clearer roadmap, firm deadlines, and financial support for race organisers will be essential to making SafeR’s vision a reality.
Cycling will always be a dangerous sport, but with the right measures, proper accountability, and an industry-wide commitment to safety, the risks can be significantly reduced. The incidents at Étoile de Bessèges should serve as a reminder that safety must never be taken for granted. SafeR is a promising initiative, but its success depends on collective effort and a shared commitment to putting the safety of riders first.
