'Mader's death must reopen debate into race descents' - analysis

BBC Sport cycling reporter Matt Warwick

Gino Mader was a talented rider, whose ability to climb the highest peaks
with the sport's top athletes was much admired.

What will now be the crowning moment of a life and career cut so tragically
short is his victory during the 2021 Giro d'Italia, on the climb to Ascoli
Piceno, in which he beat 2019 Tour de France winner Egan Bernal among
others.

But his death is a reminder that cycling is one of the most dangerous
high-profile elite sports - it takes place on closed public roads with
little or no protection for riders who are under pressure to make up time
while descending off high mountain climbs.

Riders frequently surpass 100kph, as demonstrated by the race craft of
Britain's Tom Pidcock during last year's Tour de France stage victory to
Alpe d'Huez.

Cycling last lost a high profile rider in similar circumstances at World
Tour level in 2011, when Belgium's Wouter Weylandt crashed at the Giro
d'Italia after descending at great speed and died soon afterwards from head
injuries.

While descending is a big part of what makes professional road cycling so
enthralling for its fans, Mader's death must reopen debate into whether
changes should be made to such a risky endeavour.

<https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/65926606>

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