The strange world of sport - Milan-San Remo, Wingsuit flying and Slap fighting...

The world of sport.?What a strange world…?

The medical team at British Cycling have been working hard for years around concussion. How to prevent it, how to recover from it, how to ensure those suffering from it don’t put themselves and others into increasing danger.

?So, although ?at the British Cycling Great Britain Cycling Team we have been operating to internal concussion guidance protocols created by our Head of Medical Services, @merseysportsmed Dr Nigel Jones , for some time, it was a great moment to see the guidance for domestic events and recreational activity published last week.?The sport of cycling comes with risks, but it also comes with adrenaline and skill especially in a road race sprint, a BMX Race, a freestyle run or a track sprint keirin. While understanding ?the risk, as a sport both at grass roots and elite level, we work tirelessly to consider and mitigate the risks, through ?regulations, guidance & protocols that give people in the sport the tools and knowledge they need to keep riders safe. ?

We saw a live example of this earlier in the week when, after showing mild concussion symptoms after a crash in the final stage of Tirreno-Adriatico on Sunday, it was announced that British rider Tom Pidcock will not take the start line at Milan-San Remo this weekend for his pro team Ineos Grenadiers.

The message is really clear – if in doubt, sit them out.

Now, outside of cycling I am a great fan of action sports and adventure activities. I like nothing better than being in Chamonix, able to decide if I throw myself off a mountain in a wingsuit, that there is no one telling me I can’t. (I have yet to do this… maybe I should do the training and think again!) But I’m aware that my own actions can result in an enjoyable and thrilling experience... but could also leave me fighting for my life if I make the wrong call or don’t prepare adequately. With each activity, I balance the risk/reward to my wellbeing, my life, my health – it’s my personal decision and I set my limits. And if I took a minor tumble I think I would be looking for some concussion guidance to aid my recovery.

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By contrast, as I drove up to the National Cycling Centre on Sunday night I listened to Prof Ross Tucker on the The Real Science of Sport Podcast talking about how UFC are taking on Slap Fighting as the next big thing in contact sport.

If you haven’t seen it before have a look here. Slap Fighting Championship - YouTube

This is a sport where two of the three rules that determine winning are related to achieving a knock-out – to effectively deliver a concussion to your opponent. Having listened to riders and medics talk about and seen the hard evidence of the long term effects that concussion can have on athletes, I just can’t see how the risk/reward balances up here to make this a sport that any athlete considers a smart move.?

So here in cycling we are doing everything we can to mitigate risk of concussion and just over the pond, one of the biggest commercial brands in sports entertainment, the UFC is looking to grow and promote a sport that does exactly the opposite, actively aiming to concuss the opponent.

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The world of sport.?What a strange world…?