Key Highlights:
- British rider Tom Pidcock stated he considered walking away from the Tre Valli Varesine race after a police vehicle struck two of his teammates.
- Pinarello-Q36.5 riders Marcel Camprubi and Thomas Gloag were brought down; Camprubi finished the race, while Gloag was forced to abandon and required stitches.
- Despite the incident, Pidcock took second place behind Belgium’s Jarno Widar and voiced sharp concern over recurring rider safety issues on closed circuits.
Crash Involving Police Vehicle Disrupts Tre Valli Varesine
British cycling star Tom Pidcock expressed intense frustration following the Tre Valli Varesine in Italy, stating that he initially wanted to stop racing
after a police vehicle traveling in the wrong direction struck two of his teammates. The incident took place during the one-day Italian race in Varese, directly impacting Pidcock’s Pinarello-Q36.5 squad as they navigated the closing stages of the competition.
The collision occurred with six laps remaining on the race’s finishing circuit, abruptly taking down riders Marcel Camprubi and Thomas Gloag. Spain’s Camprubi managed to remount and complete the event despite the impact. However, British rider Thomas Gloag was forced to abandon the race immediately and required medical treatment, including stitches on his knee.
Tom Pidcock Details Anger and Eventual Podium Finish
Despite the disruption within his team ranks, Pidcock managed to refocus and crossed the line in second place following a sprint finish won by Belgian cyclist Jarno Widar. Speaking to Eurosport after completing the event, Pidcock detailed the emotions that gripped him following the collision.
First of all, I wanted to stop the race, stop racing myself,
Pidcock told Eurosport. I was mad. I had guys all riding in front of me, for me, and then two of them are on the floor.
The two-time Olympic mountain bike champion added: This shouldn’t happen. But we continued and got back into the race and I’m happy that I could be on the podium.
BBC Sport confirmed that race organizers and local police authorities have been contacted regarding the on-course vehicle incident.
Safety Concerns Renewed After Tragic Incidents
The collision prompted immediate reactions regarding road closures and rider safety in professional cycling. Following the finish, Camprubi shared an image of a severely damaged bicycle via Instagram Stories, adding the caption: Sad that you have to risk your life to race, one month after a tragic accident.
Pidcock echoed those sentiments directly, responding: These accidents must stop.
The issue hits particularly close to home for Pidcock. In August, after securing his second cross-country world title at the Mountain Bike World Championships, Pidcock dedicated his gold medal to 19-year-old British rider Finlay Tarling. Tarling lost his life on August 14 during the Volta a Portugal after a high-speed collision with an unauthorized van that entered the closed-road course.
Why This Matters
The Tre Valli Varesine crash underscores lingering vulnerabilities in peloton safety and course security protocols across international cycling. While professional races operate on strictly closed circuits, errant convoy, service, or law enforcement vehicles present catastrophic risks to riders traveling at race speeds. With rider safety already under intense scrutiny following the fatal accident involving Finlay Tarling in Portugal, the presence of an opposing vehicle on the race circuit in Italy will likely intensify calls from teams, riders, and unions for stricter traffic management enforcement during competitive events.
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the crash involving Pidcock’s teammates at Tre Valli Varesine?
According to Tom Pidcock, Pinarello-Q36.5 teammates Marcel Camprubi and Thomas Gloag were struck and knocked off their bikes by a police vehicle that was traveling the wrong way down the race circuit with six laps to go.
Were Marcel Camprubi and Thomas Gloag injured?
Spain’s Marcel Camprubi was able to resume riding and finished the race. Thomas Gloag had to withdraw from the competition and required stitches for a knee injury.
Who won the Tre Valli Varesine?
Belgium’s Jarno Widar won the race from a sprint finish, with Britain’s Tom Pidcock crossing the line in second place.
