Il Lombardia riders delay start for five-minute safety protest

Riders at Il Lombardia held a five-minute protest before the October 10 start, calling for safer race roads. Remco Evenepoel spoke on behalf of the peloton.

The riders stayed still after the starting countdown. Evenepoel said competitors could no longer accept vehicle incidents that leave their colleagues injured or dead.

Recent crashes prompted the action. Finlay Tarling, Josh Tarling's younger brother, died after a vehicle collision at the Tour of Portugal on August 14. Earlier in the week of Il Lombardia, Thomas Gloag and Marcel Camprubi were hit by a police motorcycle travelling in the opposite direction at Tre Valli Varesine.

Riders' union CPA called on the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and organisers to secure race roads. Its statement stressed that competitors travel at high speed with little physical protection from collisions.

The peloton set off towards Como after five minutes. CPA said the aim was a collective appeal for safety rather than disruption of the race. Organiser RCS Sport also confirmed the action in a statement reported by Reuters.