Thinker of the peloton, Guillaume Martin, releases a new book and talks about safety: "It should not be a taboo"

Guillaume Martin has been a consistent force in the upper ranks of cycling for years. The French rider, who will join the ranks of Groupama-FDJ and leave Cofidis next year, is often close to breaking into the top ten of grand tour classifications. Besides being a cyclist, Martin is also a philosopher, which results in sharp and alternative perspectives on his sport, of which he is frequently critical.

In an interview with Cyclism'Actu, Martin discussed his transfer, as well as his new book. In 'The Peloton and I', a few years ago, he wrote about how he sees the cycling world as a microcosm of the real world, where everyone pursues their own interests but must also collaborate. His new book, 'The People Who Dream', however, is lighter in tone. "I talk about my journey as a young cyclist. It's more of a novel than a philosophical book."

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Martin outspoken about safety in the peloton: "There have been many terrible crashes"

When Martin talks about 2024, he cannot ignore the dominance of Tadej Pogacar. However, that is not what has left the deepest impression on him from the past season. "Just look at how many crashes we've had. Basque Country, Dauphiné... The topic of safety is a major concern. Fortunately, we’re also seeing progress, as the UCI is working on it, and it’s a big priority for the Tour organizers as well."

Still, Martin believes the real solution lies within the nature of the sport itself. "It’s true that as training progresses and equipment improves, we’re reaching higher and higher speeds. There’s always more tension in the decisive moments of the race when you need to be well-positioned. Maybe we should try to find solutions to reduce this speed. Perhaps we really need to pay attention to the characteristics of our sport. It should not be a taboo. Asking the right questions and considering ways to limit cycling speeds for everyone could be the first step," he says, offering a clear and thoughtful perspective on his sport.