Il Lombardia riders stand still for five minutes in protest over safety

The peloton — the main pack of riders — refused to move after the start countdown at Il Lombardia on 10 October, standing together in silence for five minutes in protest over safety. It was a simple act. No riding, no breakaway, no racing. Just stillness at the start before the flag finally dropped.

Remco Evenepoel, the newly crowned European champion, spoke for the group. He took a microphone at the start and addressed the crowd while the riders waited behind him, bikes stopped, feet on the ground. "We cannot accept the fact that people are dying," he said. Cyclingnews

The protest was aimed at safety, and in particular at non-race vehicles on race courses, The Guardian reported. Riders say closed roads must mean closed roads. When cars and motorbikes enter a race route from the wrong direction or without clearance, riders have nowhere to go at speed.

Two recent incidents weighed heavily. Finlay Tarling died after a collision with a vehicle during the Tour of Portugal on 14 August. He was the younger brother of Josh Tarling, who rides for Netcompany Ineos. His death shocked the paddock because it happened inside a race, where riders expect the road to be protected.

Then, at Tre Valli Varesine, Thomas Gloag and Marcel Camprubi were struck by a police motorcycle travelling in the opposite direction to the race. Both riders were hurt. For the peloton, it was further evidence that the danger is not only descents and weather and tight corners, but traffic that should never be there.

The CPA, the union which represents professional cyclists, supported the riders. It called on the UCI, cycling's world governing body, to help ensure that race organisers take responsibility and improve safety standards. Riders want clear rules, proper communication over race radio, and accountability when something goes wrong.

After five minutes, the riders clipped in and set off for the 239km race to Como, Cycling Weekly reported. The racing would take over, with attacks and gaps and tired legs. But the start had made the point the riders wanted heard.

What makes this stand out is the discipline. Sprinters and climbers, teammates and rivals, all stayed still together. In a sport decided by seconds, they gave up five minutes to ask for safer roads.