Airbags for cyclists?

Paul Rouget, Media365: published on Sunday December 22, 2024 at 2:51 p.m.

After a 2024 season still marked by falls, Stefan Küng, Swiss rider for Groupama-FDJ, raised the possibility of using airbags.

What if cyclists were better protected? While falls have multiplied during a 2024 season which has seen bikes rolling ever faster, Stefan Küng would like to be equipped with an airbag, as he explained in an interview with Sporza, evoking the example skiing. “If an airbag really works and becomes mandatory in racing, that could be a solution. It will cost money. But what does 500 euros mean if you can thus avoid serious injuries or even deaths?” the Groupama-FDJ, victim of a serious fall during the European Championships last year, which caused fractures to one hand, the malar bone and a concussion.

“People wonder why we want to become cyclists”

“We are driving faster and faster and we often exceed the limits during the race. But unlike Formula 1, we do not have circuits specially designed for us with chicanes built to limit the speed,” he laments. -it again. More and more dangerous falls therefore, which lead this time trial specialist to question his profession. “Today, people wonder why we want to become a cyclist, because there are riders who die in this sport,” recalls “King Küng”.

Madiot also denounces this bike which “goes too fast”

The 31-year-old rider, who recently participated in an operation with PSG players and their trainer Luis Enrique, is on the same wavelength as his sporting director, Marc Madiot, who had already denounced this bike which “goes too far “We're constantly looking for speed, we're even making comparisons on the descents… At some point, we're going to have to stop,” he thundered in Ouest-France, regretting that. 'we “encourages” riders to take risks, within a peloton with ever-increasing competition.