Tarling death shows risks of smaller races - Vaughters
Riders are risking their lives in races where organisers battle huge costs, and cycling's governing body "cannot keep traffic off the roads", according to former rider and team boss Jonathan Vaughters.
Former rider Jonathan Vaughters has warned of the dangers of smaller cycling races, following the death of 19-year-old British rider Fin Tarling. Tarling died during the Volta a Portugal after colliding with a van that had crossed onto a closed road. Vaughters, co-founder and boss of EF Education-Easypost World Tour, criticized cycling's world governing body, the UCI, for not doing enough to keep traffic off race courses.
He argued that the UCI's focus on minor rules, like handlebar width, is misplaced, given its failure to ensure proper safety measures on the roads. Vaughters called for the UCI to prioritize better traffic control and road closures, especially in smaller races where funds for safety measures are limited. He expressed sympathy for race organizers who struggle financially, but emphasized the need for higher safety standards in all cycling events.
The UCI has since released a statement expressing its condolences and stating it has no further comments to make.
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