Tour of Lombardy start delayed by protest

The start of the Tour of Lombardy cycling race was delayed by five minutes as cyclists raised concerns about safety issues in professional cycling. The protest was organized by Ben Healy of EF Education-EasyPost, with representatives from each team present in Lombardy participating in the action.

Protest praised for its purpose

Matteo Jorgenson of Visma | Lease a Bike commended Healy’s initiative, noting that the protest was well-planned and aimed to bring attention to safety issues without interrupting the race. Jorgenson highlighted the importance of unity among riders in addressing these concerns.

Safety concerns linked to recent incidents

The protest followed several high-profile safety incidents in professional cycling. These include the death of Finlay Tarling in August, who was struck by a motorist during the Tour of Portugal, and more recent events such as a delivery van entering the course during the Coppa Bernocchi.

Additional incidents raise alarm

Further concerns were raised after Marcel Camprubí and Thomas Gloag crashed at the Trois Vallées Varésines race, following a collision with a police motorcycle traveling in the wrong direction. These incidents have intensified calls for improved safety measures in the sport.

Collective effort of all teams

Ben Healy emphasized that the protest was a unified effort, supported by all teams present at the starting line of the Tour of Lombardy. He highlighted the importance of solidarity among riders in pushing for changes to ensure safer racing conditions.