Matteo Trentin had a lucky escape while training in California at the weekend, apparently crashing into a bear while on a descent.

The Quick-Step Floors rider had stayed in the United States to carry out a block of altitude training following the Tour of California when the incident took place.

Writing on Instagram, Trentin said that he had been on a fast descent when a bear walked out across the road. The Italian rider then had no time to brake, coming down and destroying his helmet in the process.

>>> Peter Sagan heads to Utah for Tour de France altitude training

This is far from the first time that a bear has interrupted a bike ride, with two mountain bikers in Slovakia recently being chased down a trail by one.

Trentin is one of a number of riders to stay in the area as he prepares for the Tour de Suisse and the Tour de France, and appears to have escaped uninjured from the crash.