Take4 days ago
Riders held Il Lombardia for five minutes; no immediate UCI response
The peloton stayed put when the Il Lombardia start was signalled, and the race rolled out after around five minutes. Riders and the CPA asked the UCI and race organisers to take accountability and act. RCS Sport said it fully supports the appeal for everyone's safety, but its release did not mention the demand that organisers act, and there was no immediate response from the UCI.
What this means
The riders' joint statement says the five minutes were not meant to compromise the race, and that they raced as normal afterwards.
Remco Evenepoel took the microphone in Bergamo: «This is a statement to the whole world that riders just keep dying in races. We are holding a five-minute strike to send a signal to race organisers.» The joint statement asks for a serious, open conversation and concrete changes to how race routes are secured and managed. The UCI has already introduced new safety measures, including better barriers and signage, but riders want faster action and stronger protection on race roads. Days earlier, a DHL delivery van drove onto the Coppa Bernocchi route behind the breakaway. A police motorbike riding against the direction of racing then hit Thomas Gloag and Marcel Camprubí at the Tre Valli Varesine. Camprubí said afterwards that «nothing changes». Finlay Tarling, 19, died on 14 August after a collision with a vehicle that entered the Volta a Portugal course, driving against the direction of the race. RCS Sport's release did not mention the demand that organisers act.
Sources
Analysed 3 sources, written and summarised with AI · How we work