QuickStep Alpha Vinyl boss Patrick Lefevere has accused the organisers of Vuelta a Burgos of creating life-threatening conditions on stage 2 of the race last week.
There was a huge crash as the riders were hurtling towards the finish into Villadiego after 158km of racing. While Jumbo Visma were leading out David Dekker for the sprint, the young Dutch sprinter did not see a speed bump inside the final 500m and lost control of his bike.
Dekker crashed hard and as the bunch was traveling at an estimated 70km per hour down a hill, there was carnage behind, with a large number of fallers and riders sustaining broken bones and concussion. Writing in Nieuwsblad, Lefevere said the finish set-up was unacceptable.
“This week it once again became clear that security is still a sensitive issue. I currently have three riders in hospital, that says enough,” he said.
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“That fall in Burgos, in particular, should never have happened. Such a traffic brake five hundred meters from the finish, on a road in a descending line, that is life-threatening. Those things are made to make cars run slower, but those riders fly over it in full final at seventy kilometers per hour.
“A lot has already been done for safety – those Boplan fenders are fantastic – but you still see things that can't be done.”
Lefevere’s remarks followed Philippe Gilbert’s strong criticism of Vuelta a Burgos, urging the UCI and race organisation to take action.
Lotto Soudal's Gilbert, who has represented riders at UCI safety meetings, said: “I support all the riders who unfortunately, crashed at the Tour of Burgos. I defend the safety of athletes and denounce this kind of breach.
"I asked the UCI to create a protocol for recognition, control, and validation of race routes and especially for finishes. However, this is still not in place. Unfortunately, the riders are always the victims of this negligence. It's time safety topics will be taken seriously. Things needs to change for the good of cycling."
