We had seen them at Scheldeprijs and we had told you about them with an article e a video: never again falls like those of Fabio Jakobsen at Tour of PolandBut since these barriers have been talked about, someone has taken up the topic again and others like the Accpi they told of other projects aimed at overcoming metal barriers, we were curious to ask Boplan how and why they had the idea of investing in cyclingAnd what they told us, especially on the commercial front, was very interesting.
Our interlocutor is Bram Robichez, Marketing and E-commerce Manager at Boplan in Morseele, a village near Courtrai in the heart of the Flanders Classics.
We'd love to know why you came up with the idea of developing safety devices for cycling.
Boplan has been around since 1999 a reference company when it comes to industrial security solutionsOver the past 20 years, we've acquired unique expertise in this sector. There are three reasons why we've decided to put our expertise at the service of the cycling and sports world, simply because we believe we can make a difference.
What are they?
The first cause is the passion for cycling of our CEO Xavier Ramon and many of our employees. Then there's the fact that Belgium is one of the leading countries with a huge public interest in cycling. Finally unfortunately terrible accidents still happen in cycling, which can be avoided by using the right products and technology.
The barrier is 140 centimeters high and inclined at 70 degrees Front and back. The legs are foldable. The single element weighs 40 kg.
The barrier is 140 centimeters high and inclined at 70 degrees. Front and back. The legs are foldable. The single element weighs 40 kg.
Did you act at the request of some friendly organizer?
We have developed and introduced our first product, the Boplan Race Bumper, in 2019Its launch was done in collaboration with the organizers of the E3 BinckBank Classic (now E3 SaxoBank Classic, ed.) which they were the first to apply it in their raceBut the initiative was ours.
How did you determine the height and angle of the barriers?
This is actually a security feature. We made sure that the barrier was higher than the articulation point of an adult person, of his pelvis. This way, people wouldn't have been able to bend over the barriers and reach the area where the riders pass. The 70° slope is identical to inclined metal barriers currently in use in the arrival areas. So if necessary the two types of barrier can be connectedThe incline, combined with the 140 cm height, ensures that spectators are unable to come into contact with the riders.
How did you choose the material?
We've drawn on over 20 years of experience in polymer solutions. Our industrial safety products can withstand enormous impacts from forklifts weighing several tonsWe have developed a whole range of crash protection solutions, each with its own specific properties and crashworthiness values. From this expertise and experience we have developed a special version of the polymer specifically for protection during cycling races and sporting events.
Have you done any crash tests?
All our industrial safety products are extensively tested. We've used the results of these tests to develop our safety solutions for cycling races. We also used crash simulations and further tests are planned in the near future. The barriers are designed to absorb energy from impactObviously we are talking about the impact of bicycles and not cars.
The totem is used to make traffic islands safe It is 2,4 meters tall, has a GPS that makes it locatable and an acoustic and luminous signal.
The totem is used to make traffic islands safe It is 2,4 meters tall and has an acoustic and luminous indicator.
What kind of service do you offer to organizers who decide to choose your barriers?
At the moment we only offer our own products, in a collaborative formula that we believe is a winning one. This means that the race organizers can use our products free of charge, in exchange for media visibility and marketing on our behalf. It's a bit like we were one of the main sponsors of the race. We use the event as a platform to create brand awareness and media visibility for Boplan, offering more security in exchange.
The only doubt, having seen them, is that the track on which the advertising panels slide might be sharp.
No, the guides They are made of flexible rubber and are not sharp at all.
How much do your barriers cost?
Well, They are expensive to produce and we have invested a lot of euros in their developmentBut as mentioned, we don't sell them as such, so unfortunately I can't give you a price.
Does this mean that any organizer who asks for them can use them for free?
This has been the case so far, but we are now working on the best strategy for requests of this type. We will handle them individually, case by case..
The barriers continue for 100 meters after the finish Scheldeprijs, here are the Boplan barriers The legs fold away for easy transport.
The barriers continue for 100 meters after the finish Scheldeprijs, here are the Boplan barriers The legs fold away for easy transport.
After so much visibility, have you received requests from other organizers?
Yup, we have received many requestsFrom Japan, Canada, Australia, the United States, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Norway, and France. We also have contacts with almost all race organizers in Belgium, from small local races to internationally renowned classics such as the Tour of Flanders, Gent-Wevelgem, E3 and the like.
Who contacted you from Italy?
There have been many inquiries, but since there have been no official agreements, We would prefer to keep this information confidential. But for now there are no big names, such as the Giro.
