<\/p>\n
Penhoet\u2019s comments reflect a broader reality faced by many professionals during winter camps in Spain, where the sheer number of riders on the road has changed how training is experienced and how easily situations can escalate.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe road belongs to everyone, but we are working\u201d<\/p>\n
Penhoet explained that encounters with amateurs are inevitable, particularly when riders are training in groups where the pace is high. \u201cWhen we\u2019re in a group, it goes faster, so there tend to be fewer people,\u201d he said. \u201cBut for those who come here on individual training camps, there are more people who try to stay with them, especially when it\u2019s big names.\u201d<\/p>\n
While stressing that most amateurs behave respectfully, Penhoet underlined the importance of recognising that professional riders are working. \u201cThe road belongs to everyone, but it\u2019s important that people understand we are training and that this also needs to be respected,\u201d he said, adding that there is no issue as long as riders are not put in danger.<\/p>\n
He also suggested that simple communication can often prevent problems. \u201cWhy not ask us if it bothers us or not if they stay with us?\u201d Penhoet said.<\/p>\n
Training alone and the need for space<\/p>\n
When riding solo, Penhoet said the dynamic changes but remains largely respectful. \u201cSome try to stay behind me, others sometimes come and talk to me, but where I train it\u2019s very respectful,\u201d he said. \u201cFrom that point, there\u2019s no problem.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, he acknowledged that structured training requires focus. \u201cWhen we start doing efforts, we still like to be a bit in our bubble and alone,\u201d he said, noting that situations depend heavily on individual behaviour rather than intent.<\/p>\n
That distinction sits at the heart of the Vingegaard incident, where frustration reportedly arose after a request for space was not respected.<\/p>\n
Cycling motorways and social media pressure<\/p>\n
Describing the roads of southern Spain at this time of year, Penhoet painted a picture of near constant congestion. \u201cYou rarely go five minutes without crossing another bike,\u201d he said, pointing to the mix of professionals, amateur groups, and organised training camps that now dominate the region.<\/p>\n
Routes around Calpe in particular have become what Penhoet described as \u201ccycling motorways,\u201d especially at weekends. Groupama\u2013FDJ United have based themselves further north near Denia in search of quieter roads, though even there, the density of riders is rising.<\/p>\n
Penhoet also pointed to social media platforms such as Strava as a factor in changing behaviour. \u201cStrava has become a social network in its own right, with photos and descriptions,\u201d he said. While he acknowledged that amateurs are often proud to have ridden with professionals, he noted that the sport\u2019s biggest names are far more likely to feel the pressure of constant attention.<\/p>\n
In that context, Vingegaard\u2019s crash has become emblematic of a wider issue rather than an isolated mishap, one where respect, communication, and restraint increasingly determine whether shared roads remain safe for everyone.<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Penhoet\u2019s comments reflect a broader reality faced by many professionals during winter camps in Spain, where the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":396297,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[4985,56529,9046,119375,101,36242,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-396296","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-cycling","8":"tag-cycling","9":"tag-groupama-fdj","10":"tag-jonas-vingegaard","11":"tag-paul-penhoet","12":"tag-sports","13":"tag-team-visma-lease-a-bike","14":"tag-uk","15":"tag-united-kingdom","16":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/396296","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=396296"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/396296\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/396297"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=396296"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=396296"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=396296"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}