'The UCI have got their priorities wrong’ - Charlotte Kool joins Lorena Wiebes in voicing safety concerns after Copenhagen Sprint

An afternoon of racing around the Danish capital ended in a fourth-place finish for Charlotte Kool in the inaugural edition of the Copenhagen Sprint, as she finished just off the podium behind Chiara Consonni, Elisa Balsamo and the winner Lorena Wiebes.

The day was marred by several crashes during the race, as many riders hit the deck before they reached the finishing circuit, opening the race organisers to criticism from the likes of Wiebes herself and her teammate Blanka Vas, who was forced to abandon the race.

The SD Worx-Protime riders were not alone in voicing their safety concerns, though, as speaking to Domestique after the race, Kool gave her thoughts on the course design.

“I think the final course was actually quite safe, it was more in the beginning that it was a bit sketchy going in and out. If you look at races in the Netherlands, it’s the same with all of the road furniture,” said the Picnic PostNL sprinter.

Perhaps a slightly diplomatic answer from the Dutch sprinter, whose team had kept her well-positioned at the front of the peloton and out of danger from the mayhem behind throughout the day.

“Luckily, we were not involved in the crashes. We also always try to point out to the riders in the back and scream if there are dangerous points,” she continued.

However, when the subject of the conversation switched to the UCI and their role in the safety of the riders, Kool did not hold back in her criticism of the world governing body.

“I really think the UCI have got their priorities wrong. I don’t think a narrow handlebar is really the problem. I really get the feeling that the UCI is always pointing to the riders or the bikes, but not the safety of the course.”

Though the Dutchwoman didn’t have any major complaints about the course in Copenhagen, other races have given her cause for concern in recent weeks.

“I have to say, I think this course was quite safe, but there are races where the course is just not UCI-worthy, especially finals with lots of corners. I remember last week in the Tour of Britain, the last stage with all of the corners was really tricky.”

Her feelings regarding the UCI were probably best summarised when she said, “They blame the riders, but I really think that most of the time the courses are the biggest problem.”

For Kool, the Tour of Britain Women and the Copenhagen Sprint have been ridden with the central goal of preparing for the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift at the end of July, as she stated that “it’s a big buildup towards the Tour and we need to keep on believing and trusting. Last year, I also didn’t really win until the Tour, so if that’s the case again this year, then I won’t complain.”