Plugge: 71% of Cycling Crashes Stem from Race Routes and Organisers,Not Rider Behavior

Cycling safety advocate Richard Plugge has asserted that a critically important majority of crashes in professional cycling⁤ are attributable to the race route and the actions of race organisers,rather than rider behaviour. He argues ⁢that improvements in these areas represent the most accessible and impactful measures for enhancing safety in the sport.

Plugge, a⁣ prominent figure in cycling safety discussions, has⁤ conducted an analysis suggesting ⁣that 71% of accidents are linked to the race surroundings. He believes that race organisers have⁢ a crucial role⁤ to play in mitigating these risks, labelling safety improvements in route design and event management as “low hanging fruit.”

“29% is caused⁢ by rider behaviour⁤ and but the remaining 71% can be broken up into different parts. But if you look at it, you can all bring it back to race circumstances, let’s say so it’s the race parcour,⁤ like steep descents⁢ or ⁤a speed bump, that’s the parcour in my opinion,” Plugge stated.

He recently ⁤engaged in a conversation with UCI President‍ David Lappartient regarding⁤ safety⁤ during ‍the Tour ⁣de France’s ⁣passage through Brittany. Plugge claims they reached a ⁣consensus on the necessity for increased safety ‍measures. Plugge was⁢ instrumental in the creation of SafeR, an organisation aimed at improving cycling safety, but he and former Visma-Lease a Bike COO jaap van Hulten were subsequently removed when the UCI assumed control of SafeR, integrating it with the sport’s core stakeholders.

“Let’s look at the low hanging fruit first and let’s⁣ not be distracted by people talking about gear ratios,”‍ Plugge urged, dismissing the proposed trial of ⁢gear restrictions at the Tour of Guangxi later this year.

“The low hanging‍ fruits are the race‍ routes ⁢and the race environment. Organizers should do a better job, not put speed bumps 150 metres before the finish⁢ line, such as,” he ⁤elaborated, highlighting specific examples ⁤of hazardous ⁤course elements.

Plugge has expressed strong⁤ criticism regarding the current operational model of‍ SafeR,⁣ frequently characterising it as a “political” entity. ⁢However,individuals directly involved with SafeR dispute these claims.

“We wanted to use data and use experts. That’s how safeR was set up. Today it’s a political thing. As ⁢we⁢ say in Dutch, we ⁤left‍ the church ⁢in the middle. meaning that⁣ there’s no real decisions are being⁣ made,” Plugge commented.

He further ⁣elaborated ⁢on ‍his vision for the organisation: “SafeR⁤ is not an independent institution like ⁣the international Testing Agency that manages⁢ anti-doping.We ‍should really force organisers and teams⁣ to make better safety decisions.”

Plugge concluded with a call for collective action: “The idea of safer‍ was to help everyone in ⁢the sport because we are ⁣in it⁢ all together. We’re⁣ in the same boat. we can solve the safety issue, we’re a big sport.”

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