Open Letter from Tinkoff Re Sagan crash

Cee-Jay-Cee

Just read this, very fair and diplomatic of them I believe. I don't see why the neutral bike needed to be anywhere next or near the front of the breaking group, if a rider further back were to crash or need assistance the bike is of no use at the front of a group/peloton, an over eager manoeuvre by an obviously unskilled rider put a top rider and potential stage winner out of the competition...someone should be held accountable. .




Date 1 September 2015

Re: Open letter related to the accident involving Peter Sagan at La Vuelta

Dear Mr. Guillen and Mr. Cookson,

Tinkoff Sport A/S as managing company of the Tinkoff Saxo professional team feels obliged to address the accident involving its rider, Peter Sagan, during the final kilometres of the 8th stage of La Vuelta a España when a neutral assistance motorcycle hit him from behind at very high speed causing his fall and consequent retirement from the race due to the severe injuries Peter Sagan sustained from the incident.

I believe the facts are clear and beyond discussion: the driver of the motorcycle carelessly and improperly tried to overtake the reduced peloton at very high speed about 8 km from the finish line apparently in an attempt to reach the leading three riders a few seconds in front.

It is clear that the driver should not have performed the overtaking of the peloton and - at a minimum –he failed to use adequate care in his attempt.

The crash at high speed could have had much more severe consequences for the rider who was defenceless against such an action by the motorcycle's driver.

Tinkoff - Saxo team and Peter Sagan, one of the highest profile riders in the peloton and a rider on which the team’s success in the Vuelta depended in large part, suffered direct and indirect damages because of the accident for which it would be only reasonable to seek proper indemnification from the responsible party/ies.

In the first instance, however, our team’s priority is that race organisers and other stakeholders learn from this incident and come up with concrete measures to promote the safety of the riders and create a better racing environment. At this stage, therefore, instead of starting an adverse process of litigation, Tinkoff Sport A/S requests the following actions to be implemented:

1. Unipublic as La Vuelta’s race organiser issue a public apology for the incident,
something not done to date;

2. Whilst not seeing this as in any way as compensating for our loss, we propose that Unipublic offer a donation to a charity organization - to be named by Tinkoff Sport A/S in agreement with Peter Sagan - equal to the value of the prize for the Green Jersey victory, or suggest an alternative which acknowledges that as race organiser it has accountability for the safety of its event;

3. Unipublic take appropriate and concrete measures to prevent similar incidents in the remaining stages of the race and its future events;

4. Tinkoff Sport A/S requests that the Union Cycliste Internationale (Uci) revoke the fine to our rider for "behavior that damages the image of cycling". The team and Peter Sagan accept the other fine for the reaction Peter Sagan had after the crash but it is simply inappropriate to fine him for damaging the image of cycling under these circumstances;

5. We also request that the Uci initiate - in consultation with our and other teams’ representatives and other relevant stakeholders - a review of the rules regulating the admission to vehicles' drivers inside the race and the way vehicles are obliged to act while driving in the convoy and peloton, with the intent of implementing appropriate rules changes no later than the start of the 2016 race season.

Tinkoff Sport A/S hopes that all stakeholders can learn from the incident and that some of the requested measures can help to prevent similar unfortunate situations from happening again and to offer better protection of the safety of riders and ensure the fairness of a race.

We hope to hear from both Unipublic and Uci about the above requests during the course of La Vuelta and in any case by no later than the last day of La Vuelta on Sunday 13 September 2015. Tinkoff Sport A/S reserves its rights to initiate proceedings.

Kindest regards

Tinkoff Sport A/S

godtabh

BMC Racing Team President/General Manager Jim Ochowicz has previously spoken out about safety issues in the professional peloton. In light of more incidents jeopardizing rider safety in the sport's third grand tour, the Vuelta a España, he has penned this letter to the UCI and President Brian Cookson.

Someone please step forward! The sport is looking for leadership and courage with regards to the safety of the riders.

The answer to the safety issues in WorldTour races will not be resolved in meetings of the UCI Safety Committee, which has been evident by its lack of action since its last meeting. Safety problems at races continue to accelerate and are now a nearly everyday issue. The first 10 stages of the Vuelta a España since a controversial opening team time trial have featured several incidents jeopardizing rider safety – or even seriously injuring some riders. Many of these could have been prevented. Unfortunately, neither the UCI nor the race organizer is willing to take any responsibility.

Let's list some of the safety problems facing WorldTour races and possible solutions:

1. Course selection. Race organizers need to select and inspect courses that are challenging – but safe – and be held accountable for such.

2. The UCI should be required to sign off on and approve all course selections months in advance of the competition. Then, a second check should be performed in the weeks and even days leading up to the actual event, making sure road conditions are acceptable and any necessary changes can be made in a timely fashion.

3. The size of the peloton has become unwieldy and unsafe at some races, especially those which feature narrow roads crowded with traffic-calming "road furniture." The UCI should consider reducing the current number of teams in the races in order to provide a smaller peloton.

For example, in grand tours, start 20 teams of nine riders each – 17 from the WorldTour and only three from the pro continental ranks. In other WorldTour stage races and single-day events, allow only 22 teams of eight riders each to take the start. Again, the 17 WorldTour teams, plus five from the pro continental level.

4. Race personnel who drive along the race course or in the caravan have become a growing concern. Most recently, incidents involving race motorcycles have led to riders being completely taken out of contention. The UCI should require proof that individuals driving vehicles in races are duly licensed and qualified to do so.

5. Reduce the number of motorcycles and cars on the race course.

6. The criteria for selection of pro continental teams to WorldTour events should be clearly defined by UCI regulations. At the moment, no such selection criteria exists.

7. The UCI and/or race organizers should make it clear to all teams and riders who is charged with the responsibility for ensuring safe race conditions and who should be held liable when riders and or teams incur damages due to unsafe courses and or unsafe caravan movements.

In closing, suggestions and proposals to improve rider safety can be discussed and debated at length. But the harsh reality is that until the UCI takes action, this is a problem in professional cycling that will continue to loom large.

Jim Ochowicz
President/General Manager, BMC Racing Team

Worth a read also

ThisRegard

On Monday there was another close call with a motorbike, this time press, overtaking a group on a descent. Nearly collided with the lead rider who made his feelings known at the time.

Beasty

Safety should be paramount in all cycling events, be they competitive or leisure. If it impairs TV coverage to ensure racers (and indeed some of the cameramen) are not put into unduly risky situations then so be it. In my view there is a bit too much trying to make races look "spectacular" by using routes that increase the dangers. I know it was flat dual carriageway where Sagan was hit, but it seems to me to have become part of the culture to increase risk taking when we should be looking for ways to make things safer (and it applies to drivers of support vehicles some of whom also have not exactly covered themselves in glory in recent times)

Peterx

He's going to have to edit that.

Vincenzo Nibbly

Unreal..

‏@tinkoff_saxo:
Unbelievable! @sergiompaulinho abandons @lavuelta after being hit by reckless TV motorbike! What shall we do now?

kerry4sam

Would the riders have much if any say in terms of safety on their competitive rides?
If they have & if they feel it getting too dangerous, are they speaking up to their teams about it? Should the teams be speaking up more about the health & safety of their team-members?

Just looking at the stage in LaVuelta today Stage#11, just incredible the fight they have in them ; the fitness and composure they're displaying. They're doing their job, but if they feel their job is being compromised then surely they would speak louder?!

Who does the ultimate call end up with? In terms now of numbers of team cars allowed en route ; numbers of motorbikes allowed en route ; numbers of media allowed en route? Who decides how many of each are ultimately allowed?

Just curious,
kerry4sam

Beasty

kerry4sam wrote: »

Would the riders have much if any say in terms of safety on their competitive rides?

Many are too concerned about earning a living wage. At the top end they tend to be obsessed with winning. They are in many cases not best placed to decide on safety matters. Look at the culture of getting back on the bike, almost irrespective of the nature of injury. Sometimes it is quite clear that a rider is concussed based on TV coverage, but their team will load them back on the bike and give them a push off. I think former riders may well be a better resource for advising on such matters. In my view it needs to be people who are not embedded within teams or the race organisation

pelevin

Was it last year's Vuelta a Sky rider crashed on a descent in the last 20kms or so - I think it was Cataldo? The tv pictures clearly showed him out for the count on the side of the road, came round, got on or helped back on his bike & continued the fast mountain descent, finished the stage, from his comments I think clearly out of it still, & later pulled from the race. Understandable in the heat of the action but off the wall dangerous stuff for his well-fare.

Effects

Any youtube links to go along with this thread?

magicbastarder

https://www.youtube.com/watch?&v=_etl_qkelX0

magicbastarder

may not be strictly relevant, though.

bazermc

magicbastarder wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?&v=_etl_qkelX0

Great bunch of lads

fat bloke

They fined him??? For being pi$$ed off at having being unceremoniously run over???!!

For fcuk sake.....:rolleyes:

kerry4sam

magicbastarder wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?&v=_etl_qkelX0

magicbastarder wrote: »

may not be strictly relevant, though.

may not be?

Thanks for sharing,
kerry4sam

Oryx

fat bloke wrote: »

They fined him??? For being pi$$ed off at having being unceremoniously run over???!!

For fcuk sake.....:rolleyes:

Did they fine the motorcyclist too? For being a tool and almost killing someone? (And affecting the race outcome)

ThisRegard

fat bloke wrote: »

They fined him??? For being pi$$ed off at having being unceremoniously run over???!!

For fcuk sake.....:rolleyes:

For lashing out at and smacking the medical car that stopped to help, as well as the other bikes around.

pelevin

ThisRegard wrote: »

For lashing out at and smacking the medical car that stopped to help, as well as the other bikes around.

Though there are times when the decision to fine would be far better being let go. To be expected to act in a decorous manner - adrenaline up in the last 10km's, looking for the stage win, & taken out of it by a motorbike doing serious speed, suffered very nasty burns, pretty serious shock presumably . . . and he in the immediate aftermath lost it a bit, kicking a couple of vehicles. Fining him there is atrocious imo. And apparently no subsequent apology for the mindlessly reckless assault on his person.

ThisRegard

I agree, I thought it was harsh considering the circumstances.

fat bloke

That's crazy. You'd think the organization would be falling over themselves to apologise and reassure.

A collision like that could be career ending, and may well be one day if they don't sort out their moto's

Cee-Jay-Cee

Fining him for his outburst simply shows the arrogance of the UCI.

pelevin

Though I'm not sure if that fine was by the UCI or the Vuelta organisers. Probably pretty easy to find out. But whoever it was, certainly appallingly arrogant or defensive in not looking at the whole picture of the incident reasonably.

Melodeon

Tinkoff Saxo have posted a side-by-side of Paulinho and Sagan:

Tinkoff Saxo wrote:

Sergio Paulinho, left, and Peter Sagan on their bikes, a few minutes after being hit by reckless motorbikes at the Vuelta a España, four days apart.

Ouch!

kerry4sam

It just seems cruel beyond words what those participating in LaVuelta have to endure.
No reason that I know of as to why : the stages have been as long as they have been ; have been as tough as they have been ; have so many on the route who are NOT taking part in the race.
The days are tough enough physically and mentally without un-necessary numpties on their motorbikes looking for their wow camera-shots!

Even just look at the injuries by both Roche & Froome ; two Superior Cyclists in their prime imo. It's not right they have to battle moto-numpties as well as the cruel days' cycle that's been planned for them.
Wishing Froome A Safe Recovery Soon & Nico a Safe(r) Journey to the Finale

Hopefully these open-letters is just the beginning,
kerry4sam

Carawaystick

Of course a cynic might say the cyclists could have a sit down protest about this and other safety issues. Just like they did to protest about improved drug testing in the tour one year....
priorities

Beasty

Carawaystick wrote: »

Of course a cynic might say the cyclists could have a sit down protest about this and other safety issues.

Don't think Sagan will be supporting such a protest at this moment in time ...:pac:.