"The top cycling product is completely destroyed by accidents that are avoidable," Vangramberen opens his plea.

If you see what happened now in the Basque Country ... In addition to a lightning-fast descent, there is a gully of boulders. Without pads or mattresses. That's a very big mistake."

At the same time, the cycling journalist stresses that future analysis must go beyond this concrete fall.

"We have to look at this with a helicopter view. The technology exists to make it safer. Clothing with airbags, like they are already used in horseback riding, skiing and motocross."

"Why isn't that becoming mandatory in racing? Like the helmet in the past - it's something almost unimaginable now. It's there, use it."

"Some former riders then bring up the argument that it's always been that way, that it's part of racing. But that's nonsense, isn't it? Do we really have to keep doing it because of that?"

"What sensible parent is going to put their child on a racing bike any time soon? It's 2024 and riders are still allowed to fly unprotected at 80 kilometers per hour against a boulder in just swimming trunks."

"Name me one sport in the world where you keep seeing serious injuries. Or there could be a death at any moment. There's no such thing, right. It's just not of our time."

"Look, so much is invested in bikes that are ever faster and lighter. But how often are they safer? Do something about that, because this just has to stop."

Tipping point?

Vangramberen thinks/hopes that the events of the past week may be a pivotal moment for the future of cycling.

"It's now two accidents in big races with the very biggest riders. This could be a tipping point. Sunday during the Ronde, there was a discussion in the car with Greg Van Avermaet about those safety clothes. He was reluctant then, but just now he messaged me that it might not be a bad idea to work on that after all."

"But honestly: after the death of Gino Mäder, we also thought there would be a change. People flaunted the new security body SafeR, but nothing actually changed. It's all alibi measures. There has to be real change at some point."

"I think the initiative will have to come from the riders themselves. Although I honestly don't believe in that. Where there is money, honor and glory to be had, people are going to take risks."

"So they need to be protected from themselves by reducing the impact of the fall. So for that, it's looking to the UCI. As the umbrella organization, they can mandate that everyone has to ride with protective clothing."

Finally, Vangramberen also called for an end to (badly) fallen riders being so explicitly portrayed live during races.

"During Dwars door Vlaanderen, our director immediately emphasized that Wout should not be portrayed too closely. Certain things - such as administering medical care - were never on screen."

"Beware: I think we also showed that fall in the Ronde last weekend too much. But that that injured woman is not put on screen is self-evident. Out of respect for family and friends."

"But in Spain they cover it as if it were an exciting soap opera, with all the trimmings. Including a hundred reruns. There should be a protocol for that too in the case of serious falls."

"If you film a traffic accident you can be punished, but showing a heavy fall in the race all over the world can just happen. What are we doing then?"

Renaat Schotte: "I get a dirty Formula 1 feeling from 20 years ago about this."

On Radio 2, Renaat Schotte also made a plea to make the race safer as a matter of urgency.

"I don't know what's going on this spring. You know, I wonder to what extent the improved braking and faster bikes have anything to do with it."

"I get a dirty Formula 1 from 20 years ago feeling about this. With riders crashing because of rules. I hope to never have to talk about that in the race again."

Schotte then raises again the question about braking: "Is there enough braking now? To be clear, I am not advocating the reintroduction of the classic brake, but now with the disc brakes there does seem to be an increased risk."

"Clearly something has to change. If not in terms of safety measures, then to the mentality in the peloton. What are we doing and why are we doing this? Riders should also take a look at themselves. It is sport. I dare say but sport. Not a game of life and death."