Latest news with #Southam
Express Tribune
19-07-2025
- Climate
- Express Tribune
Tour de France'Do we wait for a death?' UCI remains silent
Rising temperatures and increasing speeds in the Tour de France have prompted sports directors to call for changes to feeding zone regulations, citing heightened risks of injury and dehydration for riders. "We're placing feed zones on flat, fast stretches where riders are doing 60 kph," Philippe Mauduit, performance director at Groupama-FDJ, told Reuters on Friday before the start of the 13th stage. "It's so dangerous. A rider trying to grab a musette (feed bag) can break a finger or crash. And if he brakes too much, he's dropped - and in that group speed, he's not coming back." French rider Bryan Coquard broke a finger in Thursday's 12th stage as he attempted to grab his feed bag and said he would abandon the race after Friday's individual time trial. The growing risk, particularly under extreme weather conditions, has prompted a reevaluation of race feeding protocols among teams and organisers. "In 35°C heat, this isn't a luxury. It's vital," Mauduit said. "Do we need to wait for someone to die on Mont Ventoux before we act?" Tour organisers (ASO) and the International Cycling Union (UCI) were not immediately available for comment. One key complaint is the placement of feed zones on long straightaways instead of safer, slower segments like slight uphills or post-town exits. Mauduit cited several recent crashes and injuries directly linked to chaotic feeding zones. "There have been a lot of broken collarbones and scaphoid fractures this season. We're putting riders in no-win scenarios," he said. In response, a coalition of sports directors formed after the Criterium du Dauphine in June presented proposed reforms to the UCI, ASO, and the AIGCP (international organisation of professional groups). Among the changes already accepted is the reinstatement of feeding on categorised climbs. "Thankfully, we can now feed at the foot of climbs," Mauduit said. "The race jury and (Tour racing director) Thierry Gouvenou responded quickly. But it's not enough." Tom Southam, sports director at EF Education-EasyPost, echoed many of these concerns while also acknowledging the complexity of the issue. "The rules changed this year, and it's no longer us who decide where feeds go," Southam said. "Now you've got 23 teams vying for space in the same spot. That massively increases pressure. Even if we placed them ourselves, it wouldn't be massively different on a flat 120-km day." While Southam credited organisers for doing the best they could, he also advocated for more input from experienced team personnel. "They should involve a DS (sports director) who knows the terrain — you need parking for 23 teams, a slight uphill, and slower sections. Other races just call a local DS and say, 'Can you help us?' It works." The increasing heat across stages is another urgent concern. "The Tour is just getting hotter," Southam noted. "We had 9 or 10 planned hand-up spots yesterday plus the cars, so we were fine. But it's becoming a huge factor. "If we keep racing in July, we need to start stages earlier — not 1 p.m. If the race finishes at 5:30 instead of 4:30 on TV, so be it. Something has to change." "We're not asking for chaos," Mauduit concluded. "Just smarter placement. If we want riders to give a show, let's at least give them the means to do it - safely."
New Straits Times
18-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
'Do we wait for a death?' – Tour team boss urges feeding zone overhaul
LOUDENVIELLE: Rising temperatures and increasing speeds in the Tour de France have prompted sports directors to call for changes to feeding zone regulations, citing heightened risks of injury and dehydration for riders. "We're placing feed zones on flat, fast stretches where riders are doing 60kph," Philippe Mauduit, performance director at Groupama–FDJ, told Reuters today before the start of the 13th stage. "It's so dangerous. A rider trying to grab a musette (feed bag) can break a finger or crash. And if he brakes too much, he's dropped — and in that group speed, he's not coming back." French rider Bryan Coquard broke a finger in Thursday's 12th stage as he attempted to grab his feed bag and said he would abandon the race after today's individual time trial. The growing risk, particularly under extreme weather conditions, has prompted a reevaluation of race feeding protocols among teams and organisers. "In 35°C heat, this isn't a luxury. It's vital," Mauduit said. "Do we need to wait for someone to die on Mont Ventoux before we act?" Tour organisers (ASO) and the International Cycling Union (UCI) were not immediately available for comment. One key complaint is the placement of feed zones on long straightaways instead of safer, slower segments like slight uphills or post-town exits. Mauduit cited several recent crashes and injuries directly linked to chaotic feeding zones. "There have been a lot of broken collarbones and scaphoid fractures this season. We're putting riders in no-win scenarios," he said. In response, a coalition of sports directors formed after the Criterium du Dauphine in June presented proposed reforms to the UCI, ASO, and the AIGCP (international organisation of professional groups). Among the changes already accepted is the reinstatement of feeding on categorised climbs. "Thankfully, we can now feed at the foot of climbs," Mauduit said. "The race jury and (Tour racing director) Thierry Gouvenou responded quickly. But it's not enough." Tom Southam, sports director at EF Education–EasyPost, echoed many of these concerns while also acknowledging the complexity of the issue. "The rules changed this year, and it's no longer us who decide where feeds go," Southam said. "Now you've got 23 teams vying for space in the same spot. That massively increases pressure. Even if we placed them ourselves, it wouldn't be massively different on a flat 120-km day." While Southam credited organisers for doing the best they could, he also advocated for more input from experienced team personnel. "They should involve a DS (sports director) who knows the terrain — you need parking for 23 teams, a slight uphill, and slower sections. Other races just call a local DS and say, 'Can you help us?' It works." The increasing heat across stages is another urgent concern. "The Tour is just getting hotter," Southam noted. "We had 9 or 10 planned hand-up spots yesterday plus the cars, so we were fine. But it's becoming a huge factor. "If we keep racing in July, we need to start stages earlier — not 1 p.m. If the race finishes at 5:30 instead of 4:30 on TV, so be it. Something has to change."
Perth Now
03-05-2025
- Perth Now
'Powerful': Tassie takes out top Tidy Towns gong
Come down for air, a Tasmanian tourism slogan tempts. Long admired for its fresh air, wild spaces and pristine waters, the island state has been officially recognised for its sustainability credentials. The city of Launceston has been named the national winner of Keep Australia Beautiful's Tidy Towns Award. The honour recognises sustainability efforts in regional and rural Australia, with a focus on waste reduction, environmental innovation and community engagement. Launceston was announced the winner at a ceremony in Beechworth, Victoria, on Saturday night. "This award isn't just about one town - it's a celebration of every community working to build a cleaner, kinder future and we're proud to support that mission," Keep Australia Beautiful's chief executive Val Southam said. "Year after year, the Tidy Towns Awards show the best of regional Australia - not just in sustainability but in spirit. "These winners show that when locals come together with purpose, real change happens." Rye on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula, Parkes in central western NSW, South Australia's Kingston SE, Ikuntji in the Northern Territory and the Pilbara towns of Port Hedland and South Hedland in Western Australia were the other finalists. Launceston's Rocherlea Action Project was singled out for its community work, including removing 110 tyres, 1.7 tonnes of waste and three tonnes of scrap metal from the region. The volunteer group brings residents together for regular clean-up days, barbecue breakfasts and children's activities to foster connection. More than 4000 volunteers were involved in community environmental, heritage and cultural projects across the six finalist cities and towns. "Regional towns are stepping up in powerful ways," Ms Southam said. "They're not just protecting their environments - they're showing what's possible when resilience, purpose and local leadership come together for a better future." During earlier rounds of Tidy Towns voting, mayor Matthew Garwood hailed the recognition of Launceston's environmental and social initiatives as an "incredible honour". "This Council is committed to doing whatever we can to help ensure our beautiful region is protected now and into the future," he said. "I'd like to take this opportunity to thank our dedicated staff who've worked so hard to make these projects what they are and Keep Australia Beautiful for recognising us in this way."
