Crash at Vuelta a Extremadura after spectator moves into road
Spectator was attempting to film the action at Spanish race


A spectator at the Vuelta a Extremadura caused a rider to suffer a crash last Thursday, after they struck the cyclist while attempting to film the action.
According to the Daily Mirror, the five-day event, which is hosted in south western Spain annually, saw a cyclist knocked off his bike by a fan who got too close to the onrushing peloton near the end of stage three.
The female spectator was on the side of the road, but had her arm outstretched into the as she recorded the action.
A rider then struck her arm as the race passed, sending them both crashing to the floor.
“We want to make a call to the responsibility of the public so that accidents like the one experienced at the end of today’s stage are not repeated,” organisers said in an official statement released after the incident.
Owen Lightfoot, a cyclist participating in the event, called the crash “very upsetting”.
“Went for the bunch sprint today, was in near perfect position when the rider ahead of me was taken out by a spectator filming with a phone,” he said. “It’s important to keep your distance and not invade the road at the pace of the race.”
"Having spectators is great and makes the racing much more enjoyable, the sport wouldn’t be what it is without them. But I don’t know why people feel the need to film and put their phone out in front of riders going at 60km/h when the race is already being filmed and televised already, endangering riders and themselves,” he added.
"We put in a lot of hours and sacrifice a lot for an opportunity to get results, just to be taken out this way is very upsetting. I am very lucky to only have some road rash as it could have been much worse."
Luis Carlos Chia won stage three, which finished in Valencia de Alcantara.
The incident brought back memories of the crash at the 2021 Tour de France, when a woman holding a sign took out Tony Martin, which led to a mass pile up in one of the race’s early stages.
The female spectator involved narrowly avoided a jail sentence in relation to the huge crash.
A post shared by Owen Lightfoot (@owen.lightfoot)
A photo posted by on
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Tom has been writing for Cycling Weekly since 2022 and his news stories, rider interviews and features appear both online and in the magazine.
Since joining the team, he has reported from some of professional cycling's biggest races and events including the Tour de France and the World Championships in Glasgow. He has also covered major races elsewhere across the world. As well as on the ground reporting, Tom writes race reports from the men's and women's WorldTour and focuses on coverage of UK domestic cycling.
-
More intensity, nutrition and freedom: inside Tom Pidcock's career-best form
The Briton is thriving at his new team, and has been competitive in one-day races and stage races so far in 2025
-
Pretty in Pink: Poc releases EF Education team edition helmets and glasses in time for the Giro d'Italia
Both the Cytal helmet and Elicit Toric sunglasses are now offered in EF Team pink and will be worn by the team throughout the racing calendar
-
Colombian climbing star and former Vuelta a España winner Lucho Hererra could be investigated over murders of four people
A judge has called for an investigation into the former Vuelta winner who is alleged to have worked with paramilitary groups in Colombia
-
'It's a great place to start' - Edinburgh MP 'absolutely' backs Tour de France Grand Départ in 2027
Scottish city expected to host opening stage of the Tour de France, according to reports
-
'I'm doing 1,000km more than Lachlan Morton' - Cycling influencer to ride every stage of the 2025 Tour de France
Amy Hudson plans to ride the entire Tour route, including the transfers, totalling 6,300km
-
'A stage win in the Tour de France really changed my profile': Steve Cummings on working as a chef, idolising Michele Bartoli, and playing football like Trent Alexander-Arnold
Jayco-AlUla Sports Director discusses his most significant career victory and how he got into cycling
-
Cycling coverage is getting much more expensive in the UK – tell us what you think
Eurosport is closing down in the UK and there will be no more free-to-air Tour de France coverage in Britain from 2026
-
No free-to-air live coverage of Tour de France in UK from 2026, broadcaster confirms
Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) boss says free coverage of the Tour is “not on our road map”
-
Former Tour de France yellow jersey maker placed into receivership
Le Coq Sportif also produced kit for the French Olympic Federation during Paris 2024
-
Tour de France 2025 route: Pyrenees triple, Mont Ventoux return and Alps climax on menu
Race to take place 5-27 July, with Grand Départ in Lille, before an anti-clockwise route