In a sport where the slightest hesitation can cost you the race, riders at the Giro di Lombardia on Saturday decided to lose five minutes on purpose. The peloton staged a silent protest, refusing to start after the countdown, to highlight safety concerns following a series of incidents involving non-race vehicles.

Belgium's double Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel addressed the crowd, explaining the delay. "There's too many incidents happening with vehicles in the race," he said. "Unfortunately we lost the life of a brother and of a colleague of us, so we want to make this statement to show to the world that we cannot keep accepting the fact that guys are getting injured or literally dying in what we like the most to do."

Evenepoel was referring to the death of British cyclist Finlay Tarling, younger brother of Netcompany Ineos rider Josh Tarling, who died after a collision with a vehicle during the Tour of Portugal on 14 August. Earlier this week, Thomas Gloag and Marcel Camprubi were struck by a police motorcycle travelling in the opposite direction during the Tre Valli Varesine.

The CPA union, which represents professional cyclists, released a statement: "This week alone, there were multiple incidents of vehicles on race courses. This summer, a life was tragically lost to exactly this kind of failure. We will not stand for this any longer. Riders race at high speed with little protection, and we depend on the UCI and race organisers to secure the roads. That responsibility is not being met."

The CPA called on the UCI to ensure race organisers "take responsibility" and "act" to improve safety standards. After five minutes, the riders set off as scheduled for the race to Como.

"We did not want to affect the race, only to show what riders can do when we stand as one," the statement added. "We love this sport. We respect the race organisers. We want to race hard and put on a show for our fans. However most importantly we want to come home safe to our loved ones."