Cyclists do not want images of falls to be broadcast or shared

The CPA puts coverage of falls at the center of the debate following the strong incident that took some of the top riders out of the competition in the fourth stage of the Itzulia. The cyclists' union has expressed displeasure at the images of the injured riders and takes action to turn this request into a rule.

The CPA raises its voice against images showing riders on the ground after a fall

The fourth stage of the Itzulia 2024 put an end to the rides of Jonas Vingegaard, Remco Evenepoel, Primoz Roglic, and Jay Vine -among others- on the Basque roads. The fall forced the stage to be neutralized for several kilometers and jeopardizes the season of some top riders. In this context, the debate on the appropriateness of showing images of riders suffering the consequences of hitting the asphalt has been reopened.

Just an hour after the fall, the CPA -the cyclists' union- expressed its rejection of the way the incident was filmed and broadcast. The president of the union, Adam Hansen, posted that "out of respect for riders who have fallen in a crash and their families at home. The CPA does not support TV coverage to continue filming them while they are down. Riders have reached out to me asking if we can make this a rule and we support that. Please be mindful."

Out of respect of riders that have fallen in a crash and their families at home. The CPA does not support TV coverage to continue to film them while they are down. Riders have reached out to me asking if we can make this a rule and we support that. Please be mindful.

— Adam Hansen (@HansenAdam) April 4, 2024

Both the race broadcast and the media that covered the news made the same decision and showed images of the injured cyclists. Thus, it was possible to see -to mention the cases of the favorites- how Vingegaard was lying on the ground in visible pain and how medical assistance placed him on the ambulance stretcher; Evenepoel held his right arm; and Roglic limped in search of the team car.

Some fans also reacted online in line with the CPA and opposed this way of covering the information.

On the other side of the debate, Martijn Arensman, father of INEOS Grenadiers rider Thymen Arensman, explained his experience when his son suffered a serious fall during the seventh stage of the Vuelta a España 2024. "When my son crashed last year, for us it was better and less stressful to see the situation than to see nothing."

Journalist John Latimer also stated that "images of severely injured riders suffering are gratuitous. But knowing which riders are injured and which riders get back on the bike is valuable information. I think a balance can be found."

For now, the debate remains there. The CPA -in the voice of its president- states that the peloton has contacted him to try to establish a rule that restricts images of the suffering of cyclists involved in a fall.

Positions seem to be divided between those who consider this way of understanding broadcasts morbid and inappropriate; and those who believe that omitting these images deprives fans of information and can fuel speculation about the health status of the affected riders.

Either way, the debate is ongoing and it is likely that there will be more news on this topic in the short term.