British cyclist Tom Pidcock expressed frustration and considered withdrawing from the Tre Valli Varesine race in Italy after a police motorcyclist traveling the wrong way on the course collided with two of his teammates. The incident occurred during the race on Tuesday, in which Pidcock ultimately finished second.
The police motorcycle entered a roundabout ahead of the peloton but then reversed direction, striking Thomas Gloag and Marcel Camprubí, both riding for the Pinarello Q36.5 team. Gloag was forced to abandon the race due to injuries that required stitches to his knee, while Camprubí was able to continue, albeit finishing last. Pidcock described the situation as infuriating, saying he felt compelled to stop racing after seeing his teammates hit and some riders forced to the ground. “Luckily Marcel was OK, he could continue,” Pidcock said. “Tom was also OK, in the end, but he stopped the race, and he has some stitches in the knee.”
Camprubí shared images of his damaged bicycle on social media, highlighting the ongoing risks riders face on the road. He expressed concern that competitors must put their safety at risk to participate, referencing a recent fatal accident involving Welsh rider Fin Tarling during the Volta a Portugal in August. Tarling was killed after a van drove against the direction of the peloton; the incident remains under police investigation.
This latest safety lapse follows several near-misses in cycling races this season, despite strict protocols for race vehicles and convoys. According to team sources, the motorcyclist involved was officially part of the race convoy and subject to safety regulations mandating proper positioning. However, Pidcock and others pointed out that these rules are not always adhered to, stating, “Things like this shouldn’t happen.”
Recent incidents include vehicles entering closed roads during the Sauerlandrundfahrt in Germany and Australian rider Maeve Plouffe nearly being struck by public traffic during the Tour of Britain Women’s race. Plouffe recounted almost being hit near a roundabout while less than two minutes behind the peloton, with cars from the general public entering the course.
Criticism has grown regarding the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) for its handling of safety concerns, especially following Tarling’s death. Richard Plugge, manager of the Visma-Lease a Bike team, said neither UCI president David Lappartient nor others have called for decisive action to prevent future accidents. Matthew Brennan, a British rider who recently won five stages in the Vuelta a España, echoed these concerns by stating that “nothing has changed” since Tarling’s fatal crash, calling the situation “disgraceful.”
The ongoing safety issues continue to prompt calls within the cycling community for improved race security measures to protect riders from collisions with unauthorized vehicles and prevent further tragedies.