Cyclists' Union Chief Urges UCI Helmet Overhaul After 19-Year-Old Finlay Tarling's Death
Updated
Updated · Outside Magazine · Aug 17
Cyclists' Union Chief Urges UCI Helmet Overhaul After 19-Year-Old Finlay Tarling's Death
3 articles · Updated · Outside Magazine · Aug 17
Summary
Adam Hansen said the UCI should urgently tighten helmet rules for pro racing after 19-year-old Finlay Tarling died Friday in the Volta a Portugal when he hit a vehicle driving against the race direction.
Hansen argued the peloton still uses helmets certified under the 1997 CE EN 1078 standard, which he said is rated for 19.5kph despite pro road races often running near 50kph.
He said he has pressed the issue for more than two years through the equipment commission and SafeR, and called helmets a higher safety priority than airbag skinsuits, though he backed continuing airbag work.
The push comes as cycling speeds keep rising—the 2026 Tour de France averaged a record 43.3kph—and after a string of recent rider deaths intensified pressure on the UCI to improve safety.
Hansen said tougher helmet rules would be difficult to implement across WorldTour, ProTeam and Continental races, while the UCI had not yet commented on whether it will review the standards.