Etoile de Besseges: Ineos among teams to pull out following safety concerns
Five teams, including the UK’s Ineos ballistician, exited the accident in the third phase of the Etoile de Besseges Road cycling race in France, which interfered with Peloton.
The stage at Besseges Besseges was neutralized after the rider encountered a car at the roundabout.
The day before, when the driver was driving at high speed on a narrow road 10 miles from Marguerittes, the driver tried to enter the route, causing a chaotic scene in Peloton.
The incident forced 25-year-old Belgian rider Maxim Van Gils to give up the race after crashing and needed to go to the hospital.
Ineos said in a statement that the safety of their drivers and employees is “critical”.
Lidl-Trek, EF Education- Easypost, Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe and Soudal Quick-Step are also withdrawing from the third phase due to security concerns.
Soudal-Quickstep said that unauthorized motor vehicles are allowed to be “unacceptable” in the course.
It is unclear whether the teams will return from Vauvert to Mont Bouquet to return to Saturday’s fourth phase.
UCI Europe Tour Posted on Instagram,,,,, External “The picture we don’t want to see,” wrote the attempt to pass through the image of the rider on the van.
The post added: “The safety of our riders is the most important thing. There is no need to mention the name of the rider who died last year to prove this.”
Belgian rider Thomas de Gendt retired last year after 16 years in the professionals, writing on X: “Maybe the organizers and UCI will start listening now. Otherwise, we’ll just keep the monkeys In the circus.”
The governing body, UCI, later issued a statement saying it is investigating and will take action.
“Measures are being taken to avoid repetitive issues that occur at these stages,” it said.
“UCI stresses that it attaches great importance to rider safety.”
Race organizers say they are unable to close the roads on the route completely, but are doing their best to protect the rider.
