Cycling-Van der Poel believes riders are the biggest danger in cycling

Cycling - UCI World Championships 2023 - Glasgow, Scotland, Britain - August 6, 2023 Netherlands' Mathieu van der Poel in action during the men's elite road race REUTERS/Maja Smiejkowska/File Photo

(Reuters) - Mathieu van der Poel aims to retain his Paris Roubaix title this weekend, and when it comes to race safety he feels that riders are the main danger, the Dutchman said on Friday.

Thursday's stage four of the Tour of the Basque Country was marred by a horrific crash where Jonas Vingegaard broke a collarbone and several ribs and also sustained pulmonary contusion and a pneumothorax.