Today is 13 years of an event that forced the UCI to make the cycling helmet mandatory
The decision was taken by the UCI after the death, the 12 of March 2003, of the Kazakh cyclist Andrei Kivilev
Today 12 of March makes 13 years of the death of the cyclist Andrei Kivilev that died after suffering a hard fall in the 2ª Stage of the Paris-Nice. As a result, the UCI established the mandatory helmet in their careers two months later.
From that moment the use of the helmet was mandatory for cyclists. The decision was taken by the UCI (International Cycling Union) after death, the 12 2003 March, the Kazakh rider Andrei Kivilev, who died after suffering a serious fall in the second stage of Paris-Nice.
Until then, the use of a rigid helmet it was only recommended for professional runners. At that time the new standard had only one exception: the last five kilometers of a stage with high arrival.
The UCI said it made the decision with the support of the professional association of cyclists, but admitted that it also found opposition from some riders.
From the prism of the 21st century, it seems a lie, the position of some professional cyclists at that time who even raised stoppages in the race to protest that measure.
In the statement that was issued at the time we could read:
"A small group of cyclists put their individual freedom ahead to oppose the obligation to wear a helmet."
"Although it respects your opinion," the note added, "the UCI asks you to reconsider the consequences of your position. The death or disability of a runner is a great tragedy for his family and a great loss for cycling. The fact that a cyclist freely assumes the risk cannot eliminate the concern linked to such tragedies.
Some cyclists, discontent with the obligation, have not ruled out even carry out a plant because they consider that the helmet is annoying, heavy and makes them sweat more. In 1991 the riders already rejected a similar decision of the UCI.
The opponents of the compulsory use of the helmet are even more annoyed by the fact that the UCI has not waited to know the result of a survey that the same body suggested to perform among professional cyclists.
Thanks to this measure many bikes have been saved on top of the bicycle.
There are no previous results.
