“I’d rather pay the fine than risk getting hit by another car.” — Domenico Pozzovivo is still having problems after quitting.

Cycling on the road often involves two people riding bikes next to each other, even for safety reasons. Domenico Pozzovivo, who quit cycling not long ago, was fined while riding with Diego Ulissi of UAE Team Emirates because of this. But after Remco Evenepoel’s accident, he says that he would always choose that over another car accident.

This is what Pozzovivo told TuttoBiciWeb: “They followed us for a while, like they were taking us somewhere.” They were making sure I stayed on the left side of the road, and when they were sure, they waved for us to follow them to the closest stop.

There are many Italian veterans who will remember friends and family members who have died after being hit by cars, including Michele Scarponi and most recently Davide Rebellin. Pozzovivo knows this is a dangerous job for professional cyclists and is not willing to give up safety.

“What’s wrong is not the fine, but the fact that cars come too close to cyclists too often, as I told the Carabinieri.” So, he says, “I like to always ride side-by-side with the person who is with me to make myself more obvious, my visible “mass.” The person who has been through this kind of accident before will know all too well what can happen…

“I’ve been hit a few times already, and I’m not going to take any more chances,” he says. “I will always ride two abreast as long as I ride a bike.” The rule should be changed so that people can ride side by side like they can in Great Britain and other places. I’d rather pay the fine than chance getting hit by another car.