19 riders injured after driver u-turned on race circuit in Belgium

The driver was turning around after parking her car outside her home facing against the race traffic

Police tape (Getty)

Cyclists were injured at a race in Belgium after a driver performed a u-turn on the 7km circuit starting from Mont Leville.

The riders were taking part in the 'Grand Prix Cyclist Colfontaine', a race which was open to all categories, and the collision is reported to have resulted in 19 injured riders, two or three who were said to be "affected more severely", according to Sudinfo.be.

The race took place on Sunday afternoon, and traffic was only allowed one way, but the driver had parked her car facing the other direction, outside her home.

In turning round to follow the advised flow of traffic, she met with the race, telling the paper later: "all of a sudden, a whole bicycle band arrived very quickly when there was nobody just before."

There are reports of threatening behaviour by her husband, who produced a baseball bat from the family home following the collision.

The incident has been referred to a traffic prosecutor's office in Mons, where it was reported that the race had been moving at around 75kph and that "it seems that the head of the race vehicle passed just before the driver made the manoeuvre."

The male passenger is being investigated for threats by gesture and carrying a prohibited weapon. If the driver is committed of a lack of foresight or precaution, the sentence could be anywhere between eight days to a year in prison and a fine.

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Michelle Arthurs-Brennan

Michelle Arthurs-Brennan is a traditional journalist by trade, having begun her career working for a local newspaper, where highlights included interviewing a very irate Freddie Star (and an even more irate theatre owner), as well as 'the one about the stolen chickens'.


Previous to joining the Cycling Weekly team, Michelle was Editor at Total Women's Cycling. She joined CW as an 'SEO Analyst', but couldn't keep her nose out of journalism and in the spreadsheets, eventually taking on the role of Tech Editor before her latest appointment as Digital Editor. 


Michelle is a road racer who also enjoys track riding and the occasional time trial, though dabbles in off-road riding too (either on a mountain bike, or a 'gravel bike'). She is passionate about supporting grassroots women's racing and founded the women's road race team 1904rt.


Michelle is on maternity leave from July 8 2022, until April 2023.