A spectator was seriously injured and taken to the hospital after a high-speed crash during the Tour Down Under cycling race in Australia on Saturday. The incident occurred during the men’s classic sprint race on the streets of Adelaide.
Video footage shared on social media captured the moment when a group of cyclists collided with the barricades on the final corner of the race. One of the riders was launched over the top and into the crowd, seemingly knocking down several spectators.
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“Sadly, as a result of the collision, a female spectator suffered injuries and was taken to hospital, where she is currently being treated,” organisers said in a statement.
The organisers also mentioned that they are in touch with the spectator’s family and have extended their support.
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Premier of South Australia, Peter Malinauskas, described the incident as an “awful, freak accident” while speaking to local media.
“Tragically last night we did see a significant accident occur at the TDU, where cyclists went into spectators,” he said. He further added that it was saddening to report that a woman had suffered multiple serious injuries.
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Sam Welsford, the Australian winner of the race, noted that the corner where the crash occurred was “super-fast.” Among the riders involved in the crash was Italy’s Manlio Moro from the Movistar team.
British cyclist Matthew Brennan from Team Visma witnessed the pile-up, which happened right in front of him. He described the scene as “quite chaotic” and mentioned that many people were eager, as it was the first race of the season.
