Present in the Grandes Gueules du Sport on RMC this Sunday, Marc Madiot and Jérôme Pineau returned to the wish of those involved in Cycling to slow down bikes in order to guarantee better safety during races.
The evolution of equipment is raising more and more questions in cycling. If numerous falls, massive or not, have been noted in recent seasons, sometimes with dramatic consequences, the main players are questioning safety, in connection with speeds which continue to increase in the peloton.
For Madiot, “we must give rules to cycle manufacturers to naturally slow down the bike”
Director of the Tour de France, Christian Prudhomme, insisted on Tuesday that it was necessary to “talk to the cycling industry” to act so “that cycling does not become even more dangerous”. Except that this speech is complicated to hold to the extent that this same industry sponsors and supports the vast majority of teams.
If cycling starts “from a very long way” on this subject, Marc Madiot believes that there is now a general “awareness”. The manager of Groupama-FDJ even tries to be optimistic, with a solution according to him to the current problems: “The only subject that can resolve the situation is to slow down the evolution of the bicycle. We must give rules for cycle manufacturers to naturally slow down the bike.”
Present in training in recent days, Marc Madiot indicated that his team's new time trial bike “goes 10km/h faster than the previous one”. “We are going faster and faster with the equipment because it is more and more aerodynamic,” explained the team boss on RMC. “The problem with the bike is that it goes too fast. The bike tool goes too fast. It's normal for riders to train to be the best. But we need to redefine what a bike is “If we regulate, we will slow down, like motor sports do.”
Pineau more pessimistic
Marc Madiot thinks, for example, that manufacturers could add weight to bikes but “there are plenty of elements” that can come into play between the fork, the wheels, the width or the aerodynamics of the handlebars in particular. The former Paris-Roubaix winner believes that brands could adapt and continue to sell bikes despite these possible changes.
Former rider and team manager, Jérôme Pineau believes that the International Cycling Union (UCI), which could take these issues head on, “does not want that”. “These people want it to move forward, faster because it’s more salesy,” judged the consultant. “The cycle brands are sending a lot of money to the federations. The problem will always be there. Prudhomme wants to do that but the body that should do it will never do it.”
Jérôme Pineau also thinks that brands will be reluctant to the idea of slowing down bikes. But the issues around the subject are very important. “We want to limit the serious impact, the fatal falls,” summarized Pineau. “That's why we have to limit the speed. Falls because there's too much friction, there will always be some.”
