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Primož Roglič crashed on Wednesday, drove with bandages on Thursday and then was involved in an accident again

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Photo reporter Sirotti Stefano / Sirotti / IMAGO

For Thierry Gouvenou, race director of the classic Paris-Roubaix, the rapid pace of descents is one reason for the increasing number of falls in cycling. “Stop, stop, stop, let’s stop the massacre. Let's start thinking about the speed problems," Gouvenou told the French sports newspaper L'Équipe.

On Thursday, top stars Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel, among others, suffered serious bone fractures in a mass fall during the Tour of the Basque Country. Tour winner Vingegaard also suffered a bruised lung and a pneumothorax. Like the day before, the Slovenian Primož Roglič also fell. But he wasn't seriously injured.

»The drivers (of the support vehicles) at the races, who are very experienced people, tell me that they no longer have a safe distance if they leave in front of the cyclists. The descents on the passes are driven at over 100 km/h," said Gouvenou. It's time to set boundaries for yourself. "You hear about completely exaggerated translations being used."

At Paris-Roubaix there is a chicane to slow down the pace

Gouvenou said there had been enormous progress in aerodynamics and braking, but it was happening much too quickly: "Unfortunately, as soon as you get off the road, you are not protected because cycling takes place on Mr. Everyman's road."

For the one-day race from Paris to Roubaix on Sunday with its dreaded cobblestone sections, the planners have installed a chicane to reduce the speed and thus the risk of falling.

Kämna and van Aert also fell

Even before the mass fall on the Tour of the Basque Country on Thursday, several falls caused a stir. German cycling hopeful Lennard Kämna, 27, was involved in a traffic accident during a training ride in Tenerife when a car came into his path. Kämna had to be taken to hospital but is in stable condition. »Lennard is approachable and can do anything. But there has already been a real impact. “Fortunately there is no danger to life,” said team boss Ralph Denk to the “Bild” newspaper.

The previous week, top star Wout van Aert fell badly in a race and also had to go to hospital. The Belgian broke his sternum, collarbone and seven ribs.

kjo/dpa