Crashes, what can be done?

[Netserk]

just ban all cobbled classics and go to dubai instead

omloop with 50 riders at the start would still be far more dangerous than riding on highways in the desert

 

[AmRacer]

just ban all cobbled classics and go to dubai instead

omloop with 50 riders at the start would still be far more dangerous than riding on highways in the desert

🙄

 

[Unchained]

If you read the injury shopping list.... riders with broken teeth, collarbones, pelvis, Kung injury described so far as a fracture to thigh area? The Mads mess sounds workable, same with Wellens, but Trek and UAE are losing key riders all over the place. if Wellens gets screws and plates he can be training in @3-4 weeks limited duty. Narvaez still a wait and see..TDF squad for UAE will surely change if rate of attrition keeps up.

 

[Eagle_Alps]

If you read the injury shopping list.... riders with broken teeth, collarbones, pelvis, Kung injury described so far as a fracture to thigh area?

Airbags seem to be a good idea, but which one of these injuries would have been prevented if the riders had worn them?

And which crashes were caused by reckless riding? The only "dumb/avoidable" crashes I saw were caused by riders trying to put on or remove their raincoats. And the consequences seemed relatively minor.

So, what can be done, really?

 

[ashhutch1997]

I've been saying this for a while, the biggest problem is this obsession from DS's to be at the front. I turn on KBK and the riders are fighting tooth and nail to get to some random right hand bend with over 100k to go.

However, I don't think there's much more crashes than before, I remember the opening stages of the 2010 Giro in Holland being a crash fest, 2004/11/15/21 TDF first weeks had loads of big crashes, and the 2007 GW was the worst day of crashes I have ever seen.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Training crashes have nothing to do with the solutions to pro racing crashes. Open roads alone or in small groups has a totally different risk profile to a full péloton at race speeds on closed roads. Oftentimes the very same things that can make a road entirely unsuitable for race conditions are essential safety features of that same road when open to traffic.

Conflating the two just detracts from your point.

I don't know to whom you replied with this as at least last couple of posts didn't involve training crashes. As for possible introduction of more safety apparel in pro road peloton, that IMHO will affect training sessions too. Luckily.

As for the sport getting banned due to danger levels, the Isle of Man TT still takes place every single year.

Is Isle of Man TT a mainstream sport and/or where there ever calls involved to ban it altogether? Do you reckon does pro road peloton want to be associated with it in terms of athlete safety?

Airbags seem to be a good idea, but which one of these injuries would have been prevented if the riders had worn them?

Likely most.

And which crashes were caused by reckless riding? The only "dumb/avoidable" crashes I saw were caused by riders trying to put on or remove their raincoats. And the consequences seemed relatively minor.

Even if it would be true, that still doesn't mean it can continue go on.

So, what can be done, really?

A lot of things but currently not much is being done about it. Some jerking around with a tape measure and similar and that is it.

 

[Pozzovivo]

I've been saying this for a while, the biggest problem is this obsession from DS's to be at the front. I turn on KBK and the riders are fighting tooth and nail to get to some random right hand bend with over 100k to go.

However, I don't think there's much more crashes than before, I remember the opening stages of the 2010 Giro in Holland being a crash fest, 2004/11/15/21 TDF first weeks had loads of big crashes, and the 2007 GW was the worst day of crashes I have ever seen.

There are more crashes than before. Probably the strongest correlate is increased speed but it all hangs together with evrything else. The race is "on" for much longer than before now. Which increases speed in turn. DS are rightly panicking about being at the front because the cost of being at the back is very high with the large peloton (also due to the risk of crashes).

 

[CyclistAbi]

Does it even matter if there is more or less crashes and injuries then before?

It's too much.

 

[Eagle_Alps]

Likely most.

broken teeth? collarbones? pelvis? thigh? The only workable prototype of a cycling airbag we have seen would have done nothing to help.
But anyway, it would at least be a step in the right direction. Better than nothing.
But not enough.

 

[CyclistAbi]

broken teeth? collarbones? pelvis? thigh? The only workable prototype of a cycling airbag we have seen would have done nothing to help.
But anyway, it would at least be a step in the right direction. Better than nothing.
But not enough.

Hard to tell as the head bumped into the ground on where the teeth gave up. With activated airbaig the space in between the chest and the ground would be bigger so there is a chance for the teeth to be saved as a result. Colarbone and pelvis/hip yes, no brainer, thigh will likely be covered with an airbag too, current models that focus on pelvis/hip area could again help in some occasions with the thigh, mostly due to thigh being further away from the ground on impact, due to pelvis area being inflated. Obviously dedicated air sleeve for the tight to further reduce the possibility of injury.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I don't know to whom you replied with this as at least last couple of posts didn't involve training crashes. As for possible introduction of more safety apparel in pro road peloton, that IMHO will affect training sessions too. Luckily.

Did you even read the articles you were citing? The Zoe Backstedt one was about a training crash.

Is Isle of Man TT a mainstream sport and/or where there ever calls involved to ban it altogether? Do you reckon does pro road peloton want to be associated with it in terms of athlete safety?

Motor racing is pretty mainstream, although the TT is pretty niche within it. And of course the pro road péloton doesn't want to be associated with it in terms of athlete safety. And, you know what, it isn't. Because it's a lot safer - even in its current state - than the TT is. And yet the TT runs every year and it is not under threat of being banned altogether.

And nor is professional road cycling, except in your most hare-brained hyperbole.