'The number of smaller races I've been to where there's traffic on the course is unreal' – Jonathan Vaughters calls for calendar reform following death of Finlay Tarling

Key Points:

• Jonathan Vaughters, CEO of EF Education-EasyPost, called for improved governance in cycling to prevent tragedies like Finlay Tarling's death, emphasizing that such incidents are preventable and inaction is unacceptable.
• Vaughters highlighted safety concerns with rolling road closures used in smaller races, which often allow traffic on the course and increase the risk of accidents, contrasting them with full closures in major events like the Tour de France.
• He criticized the pressure on riders to compete for UCI ranking points amid a crowded calendar of around 700 race days, arguing that the sport needs fewer, better-managed events to ensure safety.
• Vaughters placed responsibility on the UCI to enforce higher standards and questioned the need for so many sanctioned races, suggesting a reduction to about 100 race days to prioritize athlete safety over financial interests.
• The EF Education-EasyPost CEO stressed that the cost of losing young athletes far outweighs financial concerns, calling for urgent action to improve race safety and governance.