A very timely story about a very timely UCI race incidents study.
No decisions on sprint rules, gear restrictions, team radios, rim height and handlebar widths
www.cyclingnews.com
- 24% increase in incidents compared to 2022
- Incidents increasing in the final 40km of races.
- 58% of incidents occur in the final 40km.
There stories about marking your trail so you can find your way back, don't get completely lost.. So what seems like overnight, 50s are becoming more standard for many races, lower profile wheels are around and are in use, but 45+ are looking more and more regular equipment. So for @10+ years people saying they are harder to turn, less to unstable in heavy winds, disc brakes and what are essentially aero handlebars with people using 25cm if they could with hoods turned in..just basics say when you make the triangle base smaller it's less stable.... Disc brakes, different saddle positions with more weight at the front of the bike and extreme stem lengths and elimination of stack, stems are slammed and then have varying downward degrees.
Most significant in my opinion is peloton parity and advanced science, including AI
Many more riders are stronger, faster than before because of training technology. And recent stuff from Cycling News and other sources are reporting that using AI and other technologies that riders will have individual training programs to maximize who they are and what they are capable of.. So if everyone is better, more fit,faster only makes sense that riders who would have flamed out or been burned off are still around for @40k left and many are in the thick of it until the end.
But definitely the bicycles used are way, way more dangerous.. You see guys seats tilted, slammed forward on the seat rails, riding a zero degree or negative 3 ..130-140 stem slammed. Way more aero sure but way less stable and with effective width @36 or less..