The peloton brings Il Lombardia to a standstill for five minutes and issues a safety ultimatum

Il Lombardia 2026 has started with an unusual image. The entire peloton has decided to delay the start by five minutes in protest against the serious safety issues that continue to occur in races. Remco Evenepoel has acted as the spokesperson for the riders in a demand that comes after the death of Finlay Tarling and the recent accidents involving cyclists during the competition.

Evenepoel leads a historic protest of the peloton at Il Lombardia

Before taking the start in Bergamo, the riders remained stopped for five minutes to demand that the UCI and the organizers implement concrete measures to prevent new accidents related to the presence of vehicles on the routes.

World champion Brandon McNulty, European champion Remco Evenepoel, and other national champions positioned themselves in the front row while representatives of the peloton spoke with Luca Guercilena, general director of cycling at RCS Sport.

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It was Evenepoel himself who took the microphone to publicly explain the reasons for the protest.

"We can no longer accept that cyclists are getting injured or are literally dying while doing what they love most", stated the Belgian in front of the present fans.

Evenepoel reminded that the initiative represents all professional cycling and not just the participants of Il Lombardia.

"Unfortunately, we have lost the life of a brother and companion. We want to show the world that we can no longer accept this situation," he explained.

The Belgian concluded with a request directed at those who organize the competitions: "Please ensure that we can race safely and do what we love without having to worry about cars, motorcycles, and other vehicles that may enter the route".

His words were met with applause, and once the five minutes had passed, the race began normally.

The death of Finlay Tarling and two new incidents in just a few days

The protest comes after several particularly difficult months for the peloton. Last August, Finlay Tarling died at the age of 19 during the eighth stage of the Volta a Portugal after colliding with a vehicle that had entered the competition route.

His death prompted a strong reaction from the Professional Cyclists Association (CPA), which demanded urgent changes in traffic management and a review of helmet safety standards.

However, this week there have been two more incidents that have once again highlighted safety issues.

In the Coppa Bernocchi, a DHL delivery van entered the route from a secondary road and ended up driving behind the breakaway before moving aside.

Much more serious was what happened during the Tre Valli Varesine, where a police motorcycle traveling in the opposite direction hit Marcel Camprubí and Thomas Gloag, both riders from the Pinarello Q36.5 team.

The incident provoked a harsh reaction from Tom Pidcock, who even considered abandoning the competition. Camprubí was able to continue, while Gloag had to withdraw and required several stitches in a knee.

The cyclists publish a joint statement: "We want to go home safe and sound"

After the protest, several riders, including Tom Pidcock, shared a joint statement on their social media explaining the reasons for this mobilization.

"As cyclists, we stand united against the unnecessary risk to which our lives are being exposed", the text begins.

The riders denounce that they compete at high speeds and practically without protection against motorized vehicles, so they depend on the UCI and the organizers to guarantee safe routes.

"That responsibility is not being fulfilled," they assert.

The statement demands that all parties involved engage in serious and open discussions to introduce concrete changes in safety protocols and route management.

It also explains why they decided to limit the protest to five minutes.

WWe did not want to affect the race, but only to demonstrate what we cyclists can do when we stand unitedW.

The text concludes with a message that summarizes the sentiment of the peloton:

"We love this sport. We respect the race organizers. We want to compete at the highest level and provide a spectacle for our fans. But above all, we want to go home safe and sound with our loved ones."

The protest was directly driven by the riders and not formally organized by the CPA, although its president, Adam Hansen, also disseminated the statement.

The demand particularly targets one of the most difficult problems to solve in professional cycling: ensuring that the hundreds of kilometers of roads used in each competition remain protected from the entry of vehicles unrelated to the race.

After five minutes of stoppage, Il Lombardia has started, but the peloton wanted to make it clear that the safety of cyclists can no longer depend on avoiding mistakes that have already had fatal consequences.