The Magnificent Cruelty of Pro Cycling

In pro cycling, the most dangerous moments aren’t always on the climbs — they’re on the way down. In this episode, we dive into the high-speed art of descending, where riders like Tom Pidcock can gain glory in seconds… and where tragedy, like the death of Gino Mäder, is never far from the edge. As downhill attacks become essential to modern racing, the sport grows faster, riskier, and harder to control. We explore the new safety measures meant to protect riders, the unpredictable threats they still face, and the brutal truth at the heart of the peloton: cycling remains a magnificent but cruel sport, and every competitor must decide how much danger they’re willing to accept.https://www.economist.com/culture/2023/07/05/high-speed-descents-are-the-talk-of-the-tour-de-france