Paul Seixas calls for change after Tarling's death: 'He's not the only one'

The French rider from Decathlon CMA CGM made his breakthrough at a very young age, winning the Tour of Lombardy, among other races. But just a few months earlier, his contemporary Finlay Tarling (NSN) died after being struck by a car during the Tour of Portugal. “Riders losing their lives that way—that should never happen,” Seixas told Canal+ about the incident.

Tarling was struck by a car that had pulled onto the road at an unguarded T-intersection, assuming that all the cyclists had already passed. However, the 19-year-old Brit was riding behind the peloton and collided with the van in the middle of a steep descent. He died at the scene. The accident sparked renewed debate about safety in cycling races.

Seixas is mourning the loss, but he also knows that it can’t really be called an isolated incident anymore. “To be honest, it’s terrible. He’s not the only one,” said the 20-year-old climber. “In fact, I was riding right next to him, and it really hits home, because what’s so terrible is that you find yourself thinking, ‘That’s yet another rider this year who’s died in a race…’” Earlier this year, Colombian Christian Camilo Muñoz died after a crash in the Tour du Jura.

Vehicles also entered the course during the Tre Valli Varesine and the Coppa Bernocchi this autumn. Seixas believes this should not happen, especially after Tarling’s death. “I think it really affected everyone—all the riders—because there are serious concerns about how the race is organised. The organisers are doing their best, but sometimes they need to do more.”

In any case, the riders have already made a statement. “We protested for five minutes at Il Lombardia because what happened was extremely serious,” says the eventual winner of that day’s race. “These are families who are affected by this. A professional cycling race where riders lose their lives—that’s terrifying.”