Dumoulin proposes brake lights and protective clothing to improve safety during the race

Security proposals continue to arrive to be implemented in the peloton. This time it was the former world champion and winner of the Giro d'Italia Tom Dumoulin who took advantage of his new commentator profile to offer new ideas such as the implementation of brake lights.

Tom Dumoulin proposes the use of brake lights in competition

"Why the hell don't we already have a rear light that turns on when braking?", "a simple red light that activates when braking could make a difference," Dumoulin commented to the NOS media outlet.

Furthermore, he added one of the proposals that have been heard the most in recent months: that cyclists compete wearing clothing that includes protections. "I know it's not the most comfortable thing in the world, but wouldn't it be possible to design something that is safe, aesthetically appealing, and comfortable at the same time?"

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Dumoulin acknowledged that this interest in safety during races was recently awakened in him during a gravel race in the USA: "On the first descent, I saw race numbers flying everywhere, on the outside and underneath. I got scared. I realized that, as a professional, I had learned to block that fear. But in an amateur race, I didn't want to do that. It hit me hard."

These proposals add to others such as limiting the transmission gear ratios in races, which the UCI is already testing, and which had the support of cyclists like Wout van Aert and Chris Froome, or the elimination of earpieces during races, something that has already been tested and generates divided opinions.

Other measures that seemed unthinkable not long ago, such as the use of airbags, have also been gaining ground in recent times. In any case, the discussion on how to make cycling safer continues, and more and more voices are calling for concrete solutions to a situation that concerns the entire peloton.