I'm not so sure about that. Obviously pro cyclists aren't purposely crashing but the nature of the sport is to put yourself in extremely dangerous situations on

I'm not so sure about that. Obviously pro cyclists aren't purposely crashing but the nature of the sport is to put yourself in extremely dangerous situations on a regular basis. Descending at 60+ mph on narrow, wet roads. Sprints where they are riding in excess of 35ph in VERY close quarters with other riders, etc. Not to mention the long term health consequences of maintaining an extremely low body fat percentage for long periods of time. The parent is being downvoted for a "what about X?" response but I think it is actually a legitimate question to ask. Almost every elite sport carries with it serious health and safety risks. But to counter their concern I would argue that elite sports almost always carry health risks, may amateur sports do not and are broadly beneficial. Contact sports such as American Football, Rugby, etc however are in a different class where the amateur athletes are also putting themselves at significant risk.