Former sprinter Robbie McEwen urged race organizers and the UCI to take greater responsibility for rider safety and pay more attention to rider concerns.

The Australian rider was reacting after a horrific crash in the first stage of the Tour de Pollogne on Wednesday that left Fabio Jacobsen in a coma, race officials unconscious, and several riders requiring immediate medical attention.

Dylan Groenewegen of Jumbo Visma was held responsible for the accident and the UCI placed the blame for the crash on the Dutch rider. He was disqualified and fined, and the win was awarded to Jacobsen.

"The UCI considers this conduct unacceptable and has referred the matter immediately to the Disciplinary Committee with a request that sanctions be imposed commensurate with the gravity of the facts," the press release stated.

Groenewegen's team later apologized for the crash, in which a rider deviated from his line and pushed Jacobsen into the barrier, but MacEwen told Cycling News that the crash should be verified by those responsible for the sport.

"The most important thing is that everyone is thinking about Fabio Jacobsen and hoping he pulls through and recovers," McEwen said.

"What I'm trying to say is that I've seen this kind of accident many times in sprints. I've been on both ends of a move like that. I've been disqualified, I've been caught in barriers, and I've fallen."

McCuen, who retired in 2012 after a 30-year career that included three green jerseys and 12 Tour de France stages, also criticized Groenewegen for his sprints, but the 48-year-old also said that rider safety in sprints The 48-year-old also said he approached the UCI with ideas on how to improve rider safety in sprints, but did not even receive a response.

"By no means do I condone Groenewegen's move," McEwen said.

"He went out too far and it's a fine line in pro cycling. It's a fine line in pro cycling. He started too far outside. This is a miscalculation, but by no means would his intention have been to let the other riders fall off the bike.

"The most disturbing thing for me was that when Fabio Jacobsen hit the barriers, he didn't sled back onto the surface. He went straight through. The organizers as well as the UCI have to take responsibility. This has been going on for years. I lobbied for it when I was racing, and I've been retired for eight years.

"I proposed barrier designs to both the UCI and ASO at the same time for exactly this situation. While improved in some races, a good barrier must still be sturdy. The boards on the front of the barrier must also come down at an angle and touch the road. Everything must deflect riders to the road.

"The Polish barriers were flying all over the place and appeared to be made of plastic. One of them broke into pieces, but that would not happen with metal. There is a lot of work to be done regarding the safety of the last few hundred meters."

Poland's first stage sprint has been in use for a decade, and its downhill nature has been criticized in the past. McEwen called the downhill sprint "not ideal," and while acknowledging that organizing the race is not an easy job, the consequences of yesterday's crash, or at least the severity of the injuries, could have been avoided if the powers that be at the top of the sport had listened more to the voices and concerns of the riders It could have been avoided.

"There are a lot of things involved in running a race: sponsors, location, towns paying for the finish, etc. At worst, it's better than what we have now. We could talk about DQs, bad falls, and athletes covered in bandages being able to start running in a week or two. Instead, we have athletes fighting for their lives in critical condition. It's horrible," MacEwen said. [They [the UCI] should finally listen to the riders and the certified accountants. There needs to be certain guidelines for all races, regardless of the level or location of the race."

MacEwen was heartbroken for all involved, including Grunewegen, who could be disciplined.

"I think Dylan Groenewegen feels really bad too. Although the accident was his fault, he must be dealing with himself. It is nothing compared to Fabio Jacobsen's family and friends."

Cycling News contacted the UCI and asked if they would review the future use of the stage 1 finish and if they would consider improving the safety barriers.