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Video length: 2 min.
A safety system usually used for skiing will be tested during Wednesday’s stage on the Grande Boucle.
This is one of the concerns surrounding this Tour de France 2023. One month after the tragic death of Gino Mäder on the Tour de Suisse, and while many crashes punctuated the last race weekend, the safety of the riders on the descents is a real question. On Wednesday July 19, on behalf of the 17th stage, protective mattresses used during ski events will be installed in the descent of the Col de la Loze.
A lasting experiment?
“The objective is to raise the level of security as much as possible, while bearing in mind that we cannot secure 3,500 kilometers twice, to the left and to the right of the road”explains André Bancala, coordinator of the assembly of the departments of France. “We forbid ourselves certain climbs because the descent is too dangerous”, continues Thierry Gouvenou, in charge of the layout of the stages. It remains to be seen whether this experimentation can become a permanent solution.