Friday 20 September 2013 17:05, UK
I am currently preparing for the world championships in Italy but, sadly, the build-up has been overshadowed by unfortunate events at a race I was taking part in last week.
The sad thing is, this is not the first time I have experienced something like this. Earlier in the season there was the Tour of Languedoc, which is a stage race in France, and we arrived and had no information of the next hotel we were going to be staying in, there was no guarantee of police on the circuit and the race was delayed by a day. Some teams decided to continue without their safety being guaranteed, but our team, again, tried to make a statement and didn't race. I think our latest protest had a small effect, but we have had - as far as I am aware - no comeback from the UCI, no apology or promise that things will get better. But from a personal point of view, I am just happy to be safe.