A recent incident occurred during a French cycling event, categorized as 2.1, when a driver of a Mini Cooper suddenly turned onto a secondary road just 17 kilometers from the finish line of the second stage. The cyclists were traveling at full speed, but fortunately, they were able to detect the danger and stop, allowing the driver to back away and leave the path. This quick reaction prevented a major collision, but the sudden braking still caused some damage.
The incident led to several cyclists falling from their bikes, including Maxim van Gils from the Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe team, who crashed into a ditch as a result of the chaos. The team’s sports director, Heinrich Haussler, explained that the entire squad had stopped, and the cyclists had just returned from a breakdown and were at the back of the group. Haussler stated that a domino effect was generated, causing the cyclists to crash into each other, and Maxim van Gils fell into a ditch.
According to journalist Daniel Benson, Haussler provided more details about the incident, highlighting the close call that the cyclists had with the Mini Cooper. The fact that the cyclists were able to avoid a major collision is a testament to their quick reflexes and ability to react to unexpected situations. Despite the incident, the event was able to continue, and the cyclists were able to complete the stage without any major injuries.