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Britain’s Matthew Brennan says it is “disgraceful that nothing has changed” in cycling to make the sport safer following the death of Fin Tarling last month.<\/b><\/p>\n
Britain’s Tarling, 19, died on 14 August during the Volta a Portugal following a high-speed collision with a van which had strayed on to the closed road.<\/a><\/p>\n His funeral took place in Aberystwyth on Thursday.<\/p>\n Brennan, 21, who races for Dutch team Visma-Lease a Bike, told BBC Sport: “It was very sad what happened with Fin. We were watching his funeral yesterday and I said to my friend: ‘It’s so sad we’ve lost someone so special and also nothing has changed.’<\/p>\n “I really think that is disgraceful. Instead of someone somewhere in these organisations saying: ‘OK, this should never ever happen again’, it feels the world has moved on, nothing has changed and there’s events where cars have been on the course still.” <\/p>\n Six riders have died during road races in the past three years, and American rider Ezra Caudell is currently in hospital, external<\/span><\/a> with “multi-system trauma” following a crash at the Philadelphia Cycling Classic. <\/p>\n Brennan, who won five stages at the recent three-week Vuelta a Espana Grand Tour, believes there should be an independent body to force through safety requirements at races.<\/p>\n “It’s unbelievable, because you’ve lost a friend and when nothing changes it is really shocking.<\/p>\n “I think these big organisations and [sport’s world governing body] the UCI should have a look at what they need to do to increase the safety.<\/p>\n “In my personal opinion, there should be an independent organisation that holds the organisations, the UCI and everything accountable to some very strict rules that makes sure the safety of the riders is held as a priority.”<\/p>\n The UCI has been contacted by BBC Sport for comment.<\/p>\n