Cycling Safety advocate Dan Bigham Urges UCI to Prioritize Course Design over Rider Penalties
Geneva, Switzerland – Dan Bigham, a prominent figure in professional cycling, is advocating for a essential shift in how safety is addressed within the sport, arguing that course design and environmental factors are more critical than increased behavioral regulations for riders. Bigham’s call to action, detailed in a recent Rouleur interview, centers on the belief that the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) should focus on creating safer racing environments rather than solely relying on penalties like the recently implemented yellow card system.
The debate around rider safety has intensified following several high-profile crashes, including incidents involving Mark Cavendish during the 2023 Tour de France. While acknowledging the inherent risks of competitive cycling, Bigham contends that many dangers are avoidable through proactive course management. He points to the financial incentives driving race routes – wiht finish towns and cities paying significant sums to host stages near landmarks like cathedrals and civic centers – as a contributing factor to possibly hazardous conditions.
“You can’t expect riders to just behave perfectly all the time,” Bigham explained to Rouleur. “It’s a race to be the best, and if it’s going to give you an advantage, you’ll go for that gap. I think it’s on the regulators in the UCI to create environments were it’s safe to do it.We can’t remove all risk, that’s impossible. We can’t wrap everything in bubble wrap for an entire stage, but we can create environments that are more safe for these things to happen, where we can descend quickly without falling over a cliff edge, for argument’s sake, or we can ride through a city centre without speed bumps and road furniture every single turn.”
Bigham also expressed skepticism regarding technological restrictions, such as limiting gear sizes, characterizing them as “an unwelcome distraction” that detracts from more fundamental safety discussions. He emphasizes the importance of learning from the safety advancements made in other sports and applying those lessons to cycling.
“The point that I really try to drive home is that we should learn from history, and we’re not the first sport that’s had safety problems,” Bigham stated. Driven by a deep passion for the sport, he is actively seeking to contribute to positive change and foster a safer future for all cyclists.
