French cyclist Paul Seixas mourns the death of 19-year-old British cyclist Finlay Tarling, who was struck by a vehicle during the Tour of Portugal, highlighting concerns about race safety.
French cyclist reacts to tragic death
French cyclist Paul Seixas expressed deep sadness over the death of British cyclist Finlay Tarling, who was struck by a vehicle traveling in the wrong direction during the 8th stage of the Tour of Portugal. Seixas discussed the incident on the show Clique, which aired on Canal+ channels on Wednesday, October 28, and emphasized that such tragedies should not occur.Incident not an isolated case
Seixas noted that Tarling’s death is not an isolated incident, stating, "The problem is that this is not the only one." He mentioned that the peloton protested for a few minutes at the start of the Tour of Lombardy to show their dissatisfaction with the growing number of tragic incidents in cycling.Organizational concerns raised
Seixas acknowledged that there are "real organizational issues" in some races but also noted that organizers are "doing their best." He described the emotional toll on families affected by such incidents, calling it "very serious" that cyclists are dying during races and stating that it is "scary" for the sport.Risks and emotions in high-speed descents
Seixas shared his personal experiences of riding in high-speed descents, explaining that "sometimes you get a bit stressed" and that "you don't think it's for your life either." He noted that while cyclists are aware of the risks, "sometimes there is nervousness, that's what can tense everyone a little and create danger."Cyclists face injuries, not fatalities
Seixas concluded by saying that while falls and injuries are common in cycling, he has "never had a fracture or a sprain" during his career, only "scratches" on several occasions. He emphasized, however, that "cyclists who die like this during a race should not happen."
