Take4 days ago
Riders stopped Il Lombardia; RCS Sport answered road users
Riders refused to start when the flag dropped at Il Lombardia in Bergamo, holding a five-minute stoppage over unsafe racing and recent rider deaths and injuries. It overshadowed the guard of honour for the retiring riders, including Bauke Mollema. RCS Sport said it fully supports the appeal, but its release urged road users to behave responsibly and left out the demand that organisers act.
What this means
RCS Sport has publicly backed the riders' appeal, but its release does not mention the demand that race organisers act.
Remco Evenepoel took a microphone and called the stoppage «a statement to the whole world that riders just keep dying in races». His message was addressed to «race organisers», and the ask was «safer races so that we can continue racing in the future». A few minutes earlier, Evenepoel, Tom Pidcock and Giulio Ciccone had approached senior race officials on the start line. The race began about five minutes late. RCS Sport's release described the stoppage as riders urging «all road users to behave responsibly and show mutual respect, both during races and in everyday life». That sentence supports the riders in principle and points the request at someone else. Colleagues lined the road with bikes raised for the retiring riders, and Mollema received a medal and framed plaque on stage.
Sources
Il Lombardia 2026, protesta dei corridori prima della partenza'We cannot keep accepting the fact that guys are getting injured or literally dying' – Riders stage remarkable protest at Il Lombardia as Evenepoel delivers speech on safetyBauke Mollema, Pello Bilbao and other retiring riders receive guard of honour send-off at Il Lombardia'We will not stand for this any longer' – Peloton unites in protest against unsafe racing conditions, delaying start of Il Lombardia
Analysed 4 sources, written and summarised with AI · How we work