Bianchi has released a statement regarding French sprinter Hugo Hofstetter's mechanical problems that occurred during Thursday's Grand Prix d'Denain one-day race.

The Arkea Samsic rider eventually abandoned the race after two sets of carbon handlebars on his Bianchi Oltre RC team race bike broke in the last 50 km of the race. The first problem was caused by a crash less than 50 km from the finish line, which broke the left side of his integrated carbon fiber handlebars.

The break occurred around where the tip of the bar begins to bend toward the brake lever, and Hofstetter had to continue riding with the handlebar hanging down before he could get repairs from the team car.

After receiving his new bike, Hofstetter was shown on television riding in the 10th sector of the cobbles of Monchaux-sur-Ecayon with around 26 km to go, this time with the exact same broken right side of the handlebar.

The second crash was not televised, but it appears that the second breakdown was directly caused by the same impact as the first.

Both crashes received a great deal of attention from race commentators and social media, and the manufacturer, Bianchi, issued an interpretation of the incident and defended its equipment.

Bianchi stated that it wanted to clarify the following three points and claimed that the brand was in constant contact with both the team and the rider after the race.

"As already reported by Team Arkea Samsic, the Bianchi Oltre RC handlebar used by the rider was broken due to two different crashes in which the rider was unfortunately involved in two close-in sections of the race. In both cases, the parts were subjected to severe impacts.

In the initial broadcast, it was unconfirmed whether the second failure occurred as a result of the crash, but Bianchi claims that it was caused by the second crash and subsequent impact. Bianchi further defended the safety standards of its equipment.

"Like all Bianchi products, the Oltre RC handlebars have passed verification testing protocols in accordance with International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 4210-5 regulations and are therefore safe for use by both Bianchi equipped customers and professional riders."

This coincides with the technical failure of Mathieu Van Der Pol's handlebar at Le Samyn in 2021, but Bianchi clearly explains here that it was equipment damage from the crash, not a design failure as occurred in the Canyon recall.21 ]

"The possibility of carbon fiber handlebar failure is a predictable condition as a result of a strong impact caused by uncontrolled dynamics."

The Bianchi recall was not a result of a design defect, as was the case in the Canyon recall, but rather the result of an uncontrolled crash.

Finally, Bianchi concludes: "Bianchi puts the safety of its customers and professional athletes first. The company constantly invests in research and development, laboratory and on-the-road testing activities to ensure the safe use of its products."

The company also has a "Bianchi Team" that includes a "Bianchi Athlete" team.

Neither Team Arkea Samsic nor Hofstetter himself have commented on the accident at this time.