Britain's Matthew Brennan, a professional cyclist riding for the Dutch team Visma-Lease a Bike, has expressed frustration that cycling safety has not improved despite the tragic death of 19-year-old Fin Tarling during the Volta a Portugal on 14 August. Tarling lost his life after colliding with a van that had entered a road that had been closed off for the race. His funeral took place in Aberystwyth, Wales. Brennan said he was disappointed that "nothing has changed" in terms of safety measures following the incident, and he emphasized that such tragedies should not happen again. Brennan pointed out that cars have continued to appear on race courses, raising concerns about the effectiveness of current safety protocols. He noted that six cyclists have died in road races over the past three years, with American rider Ezra Caudell currently in the hospital with serious injuries after a crash at the Philadelphia Cycling Classic. In response, Brennan proposed the creation of an independent body to oversee and enforce safety standards at cycling events. He believes that governing bodies like the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) should re-evaluate existing safety measures and place rider safety at the top of their priorities. The UCI has already introduced proposals such as the use of GPS trackers at races to monitor the real-time locations of riders, which could potentially improve safety. However, Brennan highlighted that larger races like the Tour de France tend to have better safety records due to extensive measures, including full road closures. In contrast, smaller events like the Volta a Portugal rely on rolling roadblocks with police and officials, which may not be as effective in preventing incidents like the one that claimed Tarling's life. Brennan also noted that the sport's increasing demand for television coverage has led to races being held under more challenging conditions, such as in hotter weather and later in the day. For example, races in Spain are now often held at 15:00 instead of the traditional 09:00. He suggested that an independent organization could play a role in assessing whether these conditions are safe for riders. Brennan's call for reform comes at a time when the cycling community is urgently seeking ways to prevent further tragedies and ensure the sport remains both competitive and safe.