Several professional cycling teams have pulled out of the Étoile de Bessèges stage race in France following a series of incidents involving vehicles on the course. The events escalated on Friday afternoon, leading to the neutralization of stage three and raising significant safety concerns. Despite organizers' efforts to restart the race, multiple teams decided to withdraw, citing the safety of their riders and staff as the primary reason.

Rising Safety Concerns Lead to Team Withdrawals

The decision by several teams to leave the race was triggered by a series of unsettling incidents involving vehicles encroaching on the race route. On Friday, stage three was halted when the peloton encountered a vehicle on a roundabout. This followed a similar occurrence on stage two, where a car driver had to reverse to yield to the approaching cyclists. These events highlighted the potential dangers posed by unauthorized vehicles on the course.

Teams such as Soudal Quick-Step, Lidl-Trek, EF Education-EasyPost, Ineos Grenadiers, and Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe expressed deep concern over the safety risks. A statement from Soudal Quick-Step emphasized that the team prioritizes rider and staff safety, finding the situation unacceptable. Similarly, Lidl-Trek noted that not enough measures were being taken to ensure rider safety, leading them to withdraw. EF Education-EasyPost echoed these sentiments, stating that the presence of moving vehicles on the race course posed unacceptable risks. The safety of personnel is paramount for all teams, and these incidents led to their collective decision to pull out.

Organizers Face Challenges Amidst Race Continuation

Despite the withdrawals, the race organizers faced the challenge of continuing the event while addressing the safety concerns raised by the teams. After the peloton stopped just 12 kilometers into stage three, there were doubts about whether the race would proceed. However, after discussions between rider representatives and race directors, it was decided to continue the stage. The five-day event is scheduled to conclude on Sunday, but the lingering safety issues remain a significant concern.

Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe's sports director, Heinrich Haussler, highlighted the dangerous conditions, noting the presence of cars parked along the roadside and ongoing traffic during the race. It became evident that the race environment was far from ideal, with reports suggesting that 54 riders withdrew on stage three alone. The organizers now face the daunting task of ensuring safer race conditions to prevent further incidents and maintain the integrity of the event. The withdrawal of prominent teams underscores the critical need for improved safety protocols in future stages.