British cyclist Matthew Brennan has described the lack of safety improvements in professional cycling as “disgraceful” following the death of his friend Fin Tarling. The incident occurred last month during the Volta a Portugal when Tarling, aged 19, was struck by a van that had entered the closed course.
Tarling passed away on 14 August from injuries sustained in the high-speed collision. His funeral was held on Thursday in Aberystwyth.
Brennan, 21, who competes for the Dutch squad Visma-Lease a Bike, watched the service and expressed frustration that systemic changes have not been implemented. “We were watching his funeral yesterday and I said to my friend: ‘It’s so sad we’ve lost someone so special and also nothing has changed,'” Brennan told BBC Sport. “I really think that is disgraceful. Instead of someone somewhere in these organisations saying: ‘OK, this should never ever happen again’, it feels the world has moved on.”
The 21-year-old noted that vehicles have still appeared on race courses at events since the tragedy. Six riders have died in road races over the past three years, and American cyclist Ezra Caudell remains hospitalized with multi-system trauma after crashing at the Philadelphia Cycling Classic earlier this month.
Brennan, who recently claimed five stage victories at the Vuelta a Espana, argued for the creation of an independent regulatory body to enforce strict safety standards. He urged the UCI, cycling’s world governing body, to prioritize rider safety and hold racing organizations accountable.
In response to safety concerns, the UCI proposed introducing GPS trackers at all races earlier this month to better monitor rider locations. While major events like the Tour de France maintain strong safety records through full road closures, smaller competitions such as the Volta a Portugal often rely on cost-effective “rolling roadblocks” managed by police and officials.
Brennan also highlighted external pressures, including television scheduling, which he believes compromises rider well-being. Pointing to the Vuelta, where riders competed in 44-degree heat due to broadcast timing rather than earlier start times, he called for an independent organization to assess race conditions. “A real independent organisation that can really say to the teams whether something is safe… would benefit the sport and hopefully would stop these sad tragic events,” he said, referencing both Tarling’s death and the fatal accident involving Muriel Furrer at the 2024 World Championships.
The UCI has been contacted by BBC Sport for comment regarding Brennan’s allegations and the current safety protocols.
GPS trackers sound like a band-aid solution. Real systemic reform is what these cyclists desperately need right now.
How can TV networks still dictate start times over rider safety? That needs to change immediately.
An independent regulatory body is long overdue. The UCI has too much conflict of interest here.
It is absolutely heartbreaking. No one should die in a race, let alone a teenager.