SIR Jim Ratcliffe has written an open letter to cycling’s governing body the UCI calling for greater measures to address rider safety in the sport.

The Ineos Grenadiers owner said he was writing the letter ahead of the first of the season’s Grand Tours, next month’s Giro d’Italia, and after a serious crash at last week’s Itzulia Basque Country involving star riders Jonas Vingegaard, Remco Evenepoel and Primoz Roglic.

Vingegaard, the reigning Tour de France champion, suffered broken ribs, a fractured collarbone, and a collapsed lung, while Evenepoel broke his right collarbone and right scapula. Roglic avoided fractures but has pulled out of the upcoming Ardennes Classics with a knee injury and other bruising.

Ratcliffe said the incident highlighted the need for the sport to do more to protect riders, and drew comparisons to Formula One – a sport in which Ineos is an investor with the Mercedes team.

“In Formula One, when Ayrton Senna had his fatal crash 30 years ago in Italy, the governing body set out to transform the safety regulations of one of the world’s most dangerous sports and significantly reduced injuries as a result,” Ratcliffe wrote.

“This contrasts starkly with cycling where, until now, governing bodies have made very few changes and serious accidents are a common occurrence.”