Johan Vansummeren, the Ag2r La Mondiale rider, asked the Union Cycliste Internationale about safety. The Belgian cyclist, winner of the 2011 Paris-Roubaix, wants more safety on the race to avoid accident.

Last year, this rider collided with 54-year-old wife of ex-pro Ludwig Wynants while she was in the feed zone of the race near Hasselt, Belgium. She later died of her injuries.

“Who is not affected by such news is abnormal. What does the UCI do about safety? Simple: absolutely nothing,” Vansummeren told Het Nieuwsblad. “If we crash, it’s often on side of the road, and how often do you have obstacles there that have nothing to do with road safety? They could do what they do in Valkenburg [for the Amstel Gold Race], where they have detachable traffic islands.”

He does not understand the UCI: “I don’t understand why the cycling federation does not impose more rules. Look at Formula One. After several serious accidents, they put their heads together. Nowadays the sport is safer than cycling.”

In the international regulation of the UCI, there is a clause about safety on racing. Rule 1.2.061 reads: “The organiser shall ensure that the race course or the competition grounds include no places or situations that could constitute a particular safety risk to anyone (riders, attendants, officials, spectators, etc).”