The Professional Cyclists Association (CPA) has hit back at World Tour cyclists who have criticized and questioned the role of the riders' union, calling their public claims "unacceptable."

The 2020 season was marked by efforts by Michal Morkov (Deceuninck-Quick Step), Andre Greipel (Israel Startup Nation), and now Richie Porte (Trek-Segafredo) to ensure the safety of the riders.

Morkov last week blamed the UCI for the poor road surface at the Tour de Wallonie, in which he competed, and called the CPA a "worthless organization." Porte spoke to Cycling News after the Criterium du Dauphiné.

"Look, something has to change," Porte said. 'The roads are getting less and less safe, and there's more and more furniture to slow traffic down. I don't think the race organizer's job is easy, but as Morkoff said, many of us riders don't really understand the CPA's job either." [But that one percent, or even not even one percent, that race organizers have to check the course and make sure the roads are up to standards ...... It is not our responsibility not to do that."

When asked to respond to the public criticism, CPA spokeswoman Julia De Maio defended the suitability of the union to represent the peloton, placing the blame on the UCI and the individual race organizers.

"We have read the criticisms against certain riders, but the reality is that we are the only ones fighting for the riders and we are sorry," de Maio said in a statement to Cycling News. [CPA president Gianni Buño spoke directly with the riders who expressed these views.

"We can admit that our work is not as effective as we would like in certain areas, but unfortunately not everything depends on us. Safety during the race is our top priority and must be guaranteed by the UCI and the organizers.

"It's like a fire in a factory and the responsibility lies with the union, not with the employer or the company owner," she continued.

"We have always worked hard for our riders and we will continue to do so. We welcome any contribution, even criticism, as long as it is well-founded and constructive."

She added, "We are not a union.

De Maio cited four courses of action taken by the CPA for race incidents this month, including investigations "from the judicial authorities to the UCI" specifically regarding crashes at the Tour de Pollogne and Il Lombardia.

Fabio Jacobsen crashed at high speed in a downhill group sprint at the Tour de Pollogne and hit the barriers. Jacobsen's Detunink-Quick-Step teammate Lemko Evenepoel broke his pelvis after flying over a bridge into a ravine on Il Lombardia.

The union has also threatened race organizers with legal action.

"The legal action should serve as a warning to the organizers to put the safety of the riders first, but we are also prepared to organize protests at the race if the situation does not improve," the statement said.

Other actions include holding an emergency meeting with officials to discuss "important safety changes" and meeting with officials before the Tour de France to discuss "proposed changes to safety measures."

"It will take time for the legal authorities to investigate what happened in the race, but we will continue to focus on this issue and demand sanctions from the organizers; the UCI has promised to give us feedback as soon as possible," de Maio said.

The statement did not specifically address criticisms about the quality of the Tour de Wallonie's road surface. Nor does it mention the Dauphiné, where Steven Kruijswijk (Jumbo-Visma) and others crashed on the descent of the fourth stage and, as a result of their injuries, will not be able to compete in this Saturday's Tour in Nice, where he finished third last year.

"I think it was the gravel on that descent where everyone crashed," Porte said. [We're an investment in the team. I can't believe they send riders down a descent like that and don't even look at the surface of the descent or at least sweep it.

"I can understand why teams are upset when they lose players like Emmanuel Buchmann and Steven Kruijswijk. Thibaut Pinot also fell over there. I mean, you can already

"After all, he's somebody's son. But I think the players are slowly coming together," Porte said.