Riding a bike into the finish of a race at 40mph with riders jostling through winding European town centres is dangerous enough but yesterday’s Ruta del Sol saw a gust of wind blow a crowd barrier over into the riders path. It’s this sort of freak event that shows the risks riders have to contend with just to get the job done.
Data show the likes of rugby, skiing and horse riding can be the most dangerous sports, bike racing might see plenty of crashes but typically you lose skin rather than break bones.
Still, spare a thought for the likeable Laurens Ten Dam who cracked his pelvis in Spain yesterday, all because a gust of wind took out a barrier.