Most professional cyclists would agree to limit the development of the transmission

In an opinion column in the Dutch media outlet Domestique, the president of the Professional Cyclists Association, Adam Hansen, has expressed his views on the obstacles to improving safety that some brands have imposed and how cyclists often doubt the equipment they are required to use but do not dare to speak out.

Adam Hansen criticizes SRAM for its refusal to test gear limitations

In a column in the well-known Dutch media outlet Domestique, Adam Hansen aimed to share his opinion on the SRAM case regarding the test that the UCI intended to carry out at the end of the last season, during the Tour of Guangxi, to verify whether limiting gear ratios could be a tool to improve cyclist safety. However, the former cyclist went a bit further, discussing the pressures cyclists face to avoid expressing negative opinions about sponsoring brands and, of course, he did not hold back in praising the work of the CPA in safeguarding the interests of cyclists.

Adam Hansen begins his column by establishing the context in which the gear limitation test was to take place. A test that had been agreed upon by all the members of SafeR, an organization that includes the CPA representing cyclists, the Professional Teams Association, the International Association of Cycling Race Organizers, and the UCI itself.

RECOMENDADO

Victor Koretzky wins and enlarges his legend in Banyoles

Nicole Koller triumphs at the XCO Cathedral after controlling the race

Banyoles brings together the best XCO in the world again: favorites, schedules, and how to watch

A Tour winner or too much pressure for Paul Seixas

Alleman triumphs in a dizzying Costa Blanca, and Valero debuts in the XCM world with a podium finish

Jordan Sarrau's BMC Fourstroke for this season hides a new development by Ohlins

A test that, according to Hansen himself, was supported by the majority of the peloton with the certainty that limiting gear ratios would improve safety in races. Only 20% of cyclists opposed it, although the president of the Professional Cyclists Association does not specify how many cyclists expressed their opinions to determine if this is a representative figure.

However, Hansen criticizes SRAM, arguing that the brand initially supported the initiative, even attending the UCI on a couple of occasions to prepare for the test that was to be conducted at the Tour of Guangxi, only to later end up suing the UCI. While this may seem conclusive, if you have followed the case from the beginning, you will know that, from the start, SRAM's arguments when the conditions of the gear limitation that excluded their groups were revealed were, according to the American company, to try to work with the UCI to reach an agreement, but their requests were not heard, leading to the well-known lawsuit.

The rest of Adam Hansen's column consists of a recap of the achievements of the CPA he leads, starting with the expansion of the safety zone in stages to 3 kilometers, which they aim to increase to 5 kilometers for all races, or their opposition to hookless rims.

Regarding this, something that also affects SRAM as the owners of Zipp, one of the wheel brands most affected by the problems with hookless rims since they only offer wheels of this type, Hansen talks about cyclists who fear speaking out, who do not feel safe competing with this type of wheel, and who, according to the President of the CPA, have described them as "They are a death trap and nothing will be done until one of us dies."

Adam Hansen also praises the role of SafeR and the way of working in which an agreement is first reached among all parties, which, according to him, serves as pressure for the UCI to take action, from tests to verify the effectiveness of measures to regulatory changes.