A cycling fan has been injured in a shocking high-speed collision during the Tour Down Under after several competitors lost control during a tight turn.
The dramatic crash, captured on the race broadcast, happened during the Saturday men’s sprint leg of Australia’s top cycle race.
Italian rider Andrea Raccagni clipped an inside barrier and slid across the road, leading to seven cyclists getting caught up in the huge smash.
The pack then slammed into spectators who were, until that point, peacefully enjoying the action on a balmy summer evening.
The vision captured the crowd as they screamed and braced for the crash when they realised the riders were going to hit, before both bikes and bodies were thrown across the road.
Several spectators were caught up and thrown to the ground in the terrifying collision.
A spokesperson for Tour Down Under confirmed a female spectator was seriously injured in the crash and taken to hospital for treatment.
‘We are in contact with the spectator’s family and have offered our support,’ the spokesperson said.
It is understood no riders were seriously injured in the collision.
‘Our thoughts are with the spectator and their family, as well as the riders impacted by the incident.’ the spokesperson added.
Sam Welsford, the Australian cyclist who won the race, said the crash was chaotic.
‘I was pretty close to the barriers,’ he told 7News.
‘I didn’t hear anything … it was such a high-speed corner. I hope everyone is OK.’
Cyclists hit speeds of up to 50kilometres per hour on the sharp turn, commentators said.
The woman remains in hospital.
On Sunday morning, SA Premier Peter Malinauskas called it an ‘awful, freak accident’.
‘Tragically last night we did see a significant accident occur at the TDU, where cyclists went into spectators,’ the premier said.
‘It’s saddening to report a woman has suffered multiple serious injuries.’
He added the woman was visiting from NSW with her husband.
New Zealand Olympian Kim Cadzow was involved in a separate minor crash on Sunday during the women’s race that resulted in a bloody nose.
In the men’s event on Saturday, the lead riders in the one-hour street race rounded the final bend without incident, but four others cannoned into the barricades.
One race official said riders had taken the final corner 20km/h quicker, compared to previous laps.
The Adelaide parklands circuit was the same one that was used to launch the first Tour Down Under in 1999.
But the debut race went counter-clockwise, not clockwise, which resulted in a much less sharp corner into the final straight.
Italian rider Manilo Moro (Movistar) was the only one of the crashed riders who was unable to finish the race.
He needed help from a team staff member as he slowly rode to the finish, looking the worse for wear.
It is understood Moro is undergoing more treatment.
The classic, a one-off race, is a fixture of the Tour Down Under. It lets overseas riders have a hitout at the start of the season before the Tour itself.
The six-stage Tour, celebrating its 25th anniversary, starts on Tuesday.
