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Fran Ventoso slams use of disc brakes in pro peloton after gruesome Paris-Roubaix injury

Spaniard suffered deep cuts in his leg following a collision on the cobbles

Movistar rider Fran Ventoso has slammed the use of disc brakes in the pro peloton in an open letter Facebook page after suffering a gruesome injury at Paris-Roubaix.

Ventoso, 33, suffered a deep laceration on his leg after a crash on a cobbled sector some 130km into the race, which the Spanish rider believes was caused by another rider’s disc brake.

In an angry letter, at the end of which he also posted graphic images of the injuries he suffered, Ventoso questioned the need for disc brakes in professional road racing and shared his fears for the safety of riders if they adoption becomes widespread.

With only two teams – Direct Energie and Lampre-Merida – trialling disc brakes at Paris-Roubaix, Ventoso believes the situation could get worse if all teams were to use them.

“Just like in any other sport, cycling has evolved in many technical aspects,” he wrote. “However, it has not done so in others in a way we’d all have liked.

“I want to make this clear: I’m as in favour as anyone else that cyclo-cross professionals or participants in sportives enjoy the advantages of disc brakes during their rides.

“But then, there’s pro road cycling events. Was there really anyone who thought things like Sunday’s [incident] wouldn’t happen? Really nobody thought they were dangerous? Nobody realized they can cut, they can become giant knives?”

Describing his injury, Ventoso says he didn’t initially realise the extent of the damage he had suffered but was then sick when he noticed the laceration to his leg.

“At Paris-Roubaix, only two teams used them [disc brakes],” he wrote. “With eight riders each, that makes it sixteen, carrying a total 32 disc brakes into the peloton.

“Let me take you to 130km into the race: into a cobbled section, a pile-up splits the field, with riders falling everywhere. I’ve got to brake but I can’t avoid crashing against the rider in front of me, who was also trying not to hit the ones ahead.

“I didn’t actually fall down: it was only my leg touching the back of his bike. I keep riding. But shortly afterwards, I have a glance at that leg: it doesn’t hurt, there’s not a lot of blood covering it, but I can clearly see part of the periosteum, the membrane or surface that covers my tibia.

“I get off my bike, throw myself against the right-hand side of the road over the grass, cover my face with my hands in shock and disbelief, start to feel sick… I could only wait for my team car and the ambulance, while a lot of things come through my mind.”

Ventoso suffered deep lacerations in his leg (Pic: Sirotti)

And Ventoso insists it was more than just bad luck, having later been joined in the ambulance by Etixx-QuickStep Nikolas Maes who, apparently, suffered a similar injury.

“Just a stroke of bad luck? I don’t think so: a few kilometres later, one of the thoughts I had sitting in the gutter becomes real.

“15km after my incident, Nikolas Maes, a rider from Etixx-Quick Step, comes into the very same ambulance I’m sitting in. There’s a deep wound in his knee, produced by another disc, one of those 32.

“One question comes inevitably and immediately to one’s mind: what will happen when 396 discs get into a race where 198 riders ferociously battle for position?

“Disc brakes should have NEVER arrived into the peloton, not at least as we know them right now.

“I haven’t met any rider who has run out of braking power with traditional brakes; I haven’t known anyone who didn’t see his wheels skidding when you brake with all power you’ve got, no matter traditional or disc brakes. Then: why [are we] using them?”

Direct Energie and Lampre-Merida were both trialling disc brakes at Paris-Roubaix (Pic: Sirotti)

Ventoso concludes his letter by pointing to the problems disc brakes also cause for mechanics and for neutral service vehicles, before calling on the CPA to take action before a more serious incident occurs.

“Disks produce cuts,” he concluded. “This time it was me; tomorrow, it can be more serious and happen to others.”

See the full open letter below, or view it on Facebook here [warning – graphic images].

UPDATE – UCI suspends disc brake testing after Ventoso injury

Open letter: Fran Ventoso

On disc brakes.

I’ve spent thirteen years in the pro cycling peloton and another thirteen moving up the ladder in youth categories. That makes it 26 years on my bike, training every day, enjoying what I like most, my passion. Since I was six, I’ve enjoyed racing, and I continue to do so. I’m so happy to have turned my vocation into a dream job.

Just like in any other sport, cycling has evolved in many technical aspects. However, it has not done so in others in a way we’d all have liked.

Through all these years, I’ve witnessed many improvements on different parts of the bike and cycling apparel. We started off with steel, then aluminum, and later on, carbon. That last one came here to stay, since it was as rigid as we needed while also offering lightness. We’ve also stopped using toeclips for clipless pedals, much more comfortable, effective and secure. Days are long gone when we used hairnet helmets: modern ones are now lighter, beautiful to the eye and offer absolute security guarantees when you use them.

I’ve also seen very important improvements on gearing. My first bike had one chainring and three sprockets; nowadays, we use two chainrings, even three, and 11 sprockets… and I’m certain it won’t end there. Technology evolution has been a sort of trial and error: getting to this point hasn’t been easy. I remember how easily chains were broken when we first used ten sprockets: links that broke, because of materials still not as resistant as it was required… it still happens today. We could also talk about the revolution that has brought the electronic shifting. When it was first shown and used, we all were surprised and made early judgments: it’s not necessary, it might not work well, carrying batteries seems wrong, having to connect your bike to AC is bonkers… And now, we can’t imagine our bikes without it.

My point is: two years ago, we started seeing disc brakes put on cyclocross bikes, and the rumour was that there could be a chance that they be tested in road cycling events.

Beforehand, I want to make this clear: I’m so in favor as anyone else that cyclocross professionals or participants in sportives enjoy the advantages of disc brakes during their rides.
But then, there’s pro road cycling events. Was there really anyone who thought things like Sunday’s wouldn’t happen? Really nobody thought they were dangerous? Nobody realized they can cut, they can become giant knives?

At Paris-Roubaix, only two teams used them. With eight riders each, that makes it sixteen, carrying a total 32 disc brakes into the peloton. Let me take you to 130km into the race: into a cobbled section, a pile-up splits the field, with riders falling everywhere. I’ve got to break but I can’t avoid crashing against the rider in front of me, who was also trying not to hit the ones ahead. I didn’t actually fall down: it was only my leg touching the back of his bike. I keep riding. But shortly afterwards, I have a glance at that leg: it doesn’t hurt, there’s not a lot of blood covering it, but I can clearly see part of the periosteum, the membrane or surface that covers my tibia. I get off my bike, throw myself against the right-hand side of the road over the grass, cover my face with my hands in shock and disbelief, start to feel sick… I could only wait for my team car and the ambulance, while a lot of things come through my mind.

Just a stroke of bad luck? I don’t thing so: few kilometers later, one of the thoughts I had sitting in the gutter becomes real.

15km after my incident, Nikolas Maes, a rider from Etixx-Quick Step, comes into the very same ambulance I’m sitting in. There’s a deep wound in his knee, produced by another disc, one of those 32. One question comes inevitably and immediately to one’s mind: what will happen when 396 discs get into a race where 198 riders ferociously battle for position?

Disc brakes should have NEVER arrived into the peloton, not at least as we know them right now. I haven’t met any rider who has run out of braking power with traditional brakes; I haven’t known anyone who didn’t see his wheels skidding when you brake with all power you’ve got, no matter traditional or disc brakes. Then: why using them?

Conversely, there are lots of problems to change wheels after a puncture; added trouble for neutral service, which has to carry three or four different sets of wheels to help you out in case your team car is not around… and the most worrying thing, as I stated before, is that disc brakes in its actual concept are giant knives, ‘machetes’ when crashing against or crashed by them at a certain speed. And in some points, we reach 80, 90, 100 kilometres per hour.

I’ve been lucky: I didn’t get my leg chopped off, it’s just some muscle and skin. But can you imagine that disk cutting a jugular or a femoral vein? I would prefer not to.

All of this happens because the international riders’ association –the CPA–, national riders’ associations, international and national feds, teams and, above all of them, OURSELVES, PROFESSIONAL RIDERS, are not doing anything. We always think that it’s not a problem if it doesn’t happen to ourselves. We always wait for horrible things to happen in order to take measures. Sooner or later, it could happen to anybody: it’s a matter of probability, we’ve all got the same. Pro riders should take a look beyond our own belly. Others tell us what we should do, but we just can’t forget WE’VE GOT THE POWER TO CHOOSE, AND WE SHOULD MAKE A CHOICE.

Disks produce cuts. This time it was me; tomorrow, it can be more serious and happen to others.

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