Horrifying moment pensioner causes huge crash as cyclists smash into mobility scooter | Other | Sport

There was a horrifying moment during a cycling race in Germany on Sunday as an elderly woman on a mobility scooter caused a massive high-speed crash. The pensioner was among those watching the LVM Saarland Trofeo – a junior multi-day race held every in the region of Saarland, which is on the border of France and Luxembourg.

The race is part of the UCI Junior Nations Cup, an annual event for 17-year-olds and 18-year-olds. But there was a nasty incident when the woman inexplicably edged out into the road on her scooter as riders hurtled past her. While a Danish rider was able to just dodge the mobility scooter, Dutchman Paul Vriesman smashed straight into it at full speed and was sent somersaulting through the air and down into the tarmac.

And Vriesman was not the only one to crash, with several other riders caught in the pile-up and coming off their bikes hard. Footage of the incident went viral and you can see it for yourself below.

Vriesman, in orange, himself shared it to his Instagram story. He was one of several left lying in shock on the road.

And the Decathlon CMA CGM Juniors rider wrote on social media: “A very nasty looking crash but it looks like I got away with it relatively well [without major injuries].

“Didn’t get to finish the race while every stage was feeling like a big step forward. Lost for words on how something like this can happen. So much hard work and yet another setback.”

Remarkably, all the riders involved are understood to have avoided serious injuries. The spectator is also thought to be OK though her scooter is likely to have taken major damage.

The final stage of the race was won by Australia’s Alistair Forsyth, riding for Merida Adelaar Cycling Team. But the general classification was topped by Norway’s Sindre Orholm-Lonseth, who also competes for the Decathlon CMA CGM.

Vriesman’s fellow Dutch teenager Splinter van ‘t Hoff ended second overall and wrote on Instagram: “Trofeo Saarland nations cup. Gc p2+ team classification. P2 stage 2 & p3 stage 3.2. Thanks to whole team.”