Adam Yates, Lotte Kopecky, Mads Pedersen – the big names are already winning the big races. But as we look ahead towards Strade Bianche, Paris-Nice, the spring Classics, other issues come into play – just as they do every season. Issues like race safety, rider responsibilities, ethics and money...
With these issues very much in mind, we speak at length to dsm-firmenich PostNL team manager Iwan Spekenbrink, who talks about why his team remains part of the Movement for Credible Cycling, why cycling needs more doping controls to boost its credibility, and about the exciting talent that is racing in his team's colours, including Dutch sprinters Fabio Jakobsen and Charlotte Kool, and fast-rising Britons Oscar Onley, Max Poole and Pfeiffer Georgi.
We also lift the lid on the latest developments within the SafeR (Safe Roadcycling) initiative designed to raise security standards among race organisers and prevent riders from behaving badly. We reveal that the project will lead to the introduction of yellow and red card penalty system in elite racing in the second half of this season, while Adam Hansen, president of the CPA riders' union, explains the benefits of SafeR and why riders will be making a financial contribution towards the project.