Take3 days ago
Riders ran the Il Lombardia protest alone; UCI now on the spot
The Il Lombardia protest was organised in a WhatsApp group created mid-week, with one rider from each of the 25 teams and without the CPA. Luca Guercilena of RCS Sport called the action «very fair and correct» afterwards. With the organiser on side, the open question sits with the UCI, which Michael Tarling hopes is listening.
What this means
Riders showed they can act without the CPA, and the organiser they targeted agreed with them. Richard Plugge said in August that teams may need to take responsibility for race safety themselves if the UCI does not act. The UCI's published reform consultation treats safety as 'non-negotiable', but analysts say such changes may not come before 2029.
The group was reportedly created by Tom Pidcock or Ben Healy, and the CPA riders' union was not involved. George Bennett said: «No one knew this was going to happen. We kept it out of the Telegram groups, we didn't even tell our directors or team staff.» Fausto Masnada, his team's representative in the group, said all 25 teams were in line with the protest. Organisers heard 25 to 30 minutes before the start, and Guercilena said their one request was that someone explain the protest to spectators. He said it could have been better coordinated, with a stage rather than a microphone, and that similar actions should be shared with other races. Michael Tarling, father of Finlay Tarling, said the family was grateful to the riders and hoped the UCI was listening and changes would follow. After Finlay Tarling's death on 14 August, the UCI said circumstances were still being established and it would not comment further.
Sources
A WhatsApp group, ring-leaders, and a secretive operation – How the rider demonstration at Il Lombardia took shapeRider protest 'very fair and correct' but could have been 'done better', says Il Lombardia boss Luca GuercilenaIL LOMBARDIA COMINCIA CON L'APPELLO DEI CORRIDORI: «PRETENDIAMO SICUREZZA». E PAPA' TARLING...Cycling chiefs criticised for response to Fin Tarling’s death: ‘This simply cannot happen’Giro di Lombardia: Rider safety protest delays start of UCI World Tour race won by 20-year-old Paul Seixas
Analysed 5 sources, written and summarised with AI · How we work