James Moultrie

Following the death of 19-year-old Welsh cyclist Finlay Tarling after a collision with a vehicle on the Volta a Portugal route, Visma-Lease a Bike boss Richard Plugge urged cycling’s governing bodies and teams to take stronger action on race safety. He criticized the UCI for its limited response and warned that teams may need to assume greater responsibility. Plugge proposed replacing long point-to-point races on public roads with secured 15- to 25-kilometre circuits, arguing that rising traffic and repeated incidents involving unauthorized vehicles make current arrangements increasingly difficult to manage. Recent dangers at the Tour of Britain Women, Étoile de Bessèges and Tour Féminin des Pyrénées reinforce his concerns, while he questioned whether traditional 200-kilometre road races will remain feasible within five years.