Multiple Tour de France stage winner Matej Mohorič has suggested that wider, slower tyres could help slow riders down and improve safety in the sport.
However, the Slovenian Bahrain-Victorious rider conceded it was a far from perfect solution to what he called an impossible question.
He was speaking on the Cycling Weekly Going Long podcast, which focuses on the feats of riders who make a habit of ultra-distance endeavours.
"It's an impossible task," he said. "I think limiting the gearing is an option, though not the most efficient option. Because by limiting the gears you're also going to limit the time the riders spend spread out, so there's more contact. They're going to bunch up before important corners because you can't go any faster.
"I think the more efficient option would be to oblige everyone to regulate the tyres we're on," he said. "Make everyone run the same slow, draggy tyres. That would bring the speed down.
"But it would also kill the spectacle," he added, "and it would also benefit heavier, stronger riders. There's never a good solution."
Ultimately, Mohorič said "we are always going to be bike racers", always pushing the limits. "Nobody's going to give an extra centimetre to make the race safer."
Mohorič also spoke about his Grand Tour and Classics wins, as well as his forays into the gravel world and how he "flicked" Merida's marketing strategy by winning the Gravel World Championship on a bike designed for endurance.
Listen to the whole conversation with Matej Mohorič here. The Cycling Weekly Going Long can be found on all podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
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Going Long 5: A million metres in a year Professional ultra-rider Jack Thomson on his extraordinary climbing challenge, riding the Tour de France route, and a whole lot more
Going Long 4: Sleep strategies for ultra riders Robbie Britton chats to us about the switch between ultra running and ultra riding, as well as talking through sleep strategies during long-distance races
Going Long 3: Bikepacking through the Americas James Benson-King talks all things bikepacking and how he plans to become the first ever person to cycle across Antartica
Going Long 2: The world's toughest ultra race? Liam Yates chats with us about FKTs and his recent ride at the Tour Divide, one of the toughest races on the ultra cycling calendar
Going Long 1: The Godfather of ultra riding Mark Beaumont – the godfather of ultra riding – talks to us about his palmares of epic rides including his centre piece, the round-the-world record
