Magpie attacks keep coming at World Championships
Notorious birds continue to swoop and attack riders in Wollongong, Australia
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

Riders competing at the 2022 road World Championships in Wollongong, Australia will be thanking helmet sponsors for their top of the range lids that they have the privilege of wearing during racing in the coming days.
First and foremost to protect them from serious head injury in the event of a crash, but also to help to ward off potential dive bombing magpies on the roads of Wollongong.
Wollongong is home to a large population of the birds and locals refer to the start of the current season as "swooping season" as the birds clatter down into cyclists, pedestrians and anyone they set eyes on in a bid to protect their young.
Of course, this happens to be just in time for multitudes of world class cyclists using the local roads to train and then compete.
Bauke Mollema has become the latest rider to share footage on social media of himself and other Dutch riders coming under attack from the birds on a group training ride.
Other riders currently out in Wollongong have also come under attack recently include recently crowned Vuelta a España champion Remco Evenepoel who experienced being stalked by a magpie ahead of last weekend’s elite men's time trial.
Evenepoel said: “A fairly large bird came very close and it just kept following me. It was terrifying. But that's Australia, apparently. I hope it's the only time it happens, but I am afraid of it."
pic.twitter.com/nZlj94wk6zSeptember 20, 2022
In the footage of Mollema being attacked, a bird clearly swoops down using its feet to collide with the Dutch rider's head, something which is said to be very common in the local area at this time of year.
However, the dangers from the bird attacks have very occasionally ended badly. In extreme cases the consequences even proved to be fatal.
In 2019 a man was killed after crashing his bike when attempting to avoid a swooping magpie in the city.
Paul Partland, a local vet in Wollongong recently shared some advice to the general public as well as cyclists on how to ward off the pesky attackers.
He said: “Swooping birds tend to target people that are by themselves and also people that are moving in very fast ways. Unfortunately, I don't think we're going to slow down the cyclists in their race to take a little side breather as the birds swoop by.
"As we're watching it as pedestrians and spectators we should be walking rather than running."
So far so good, the magpies have largely stayed away from actual events with no riders reporting being attacked during a race.
Moving forward, the likes of Julian Alaphilippe will be keeping his fingers crossed that if the attacks come in the men’s elite road race next weekend, they are from his rivals for the rainbow bands and not from any aerial attackers.
Thank you for reading 10 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 is a Digital News and Features Writer at Cycling Weekly.
Before joining the Cycling Weekly team, he worked at Oxford Brookes University, most recently in the Internal Communications team. An avid cycling follower with a keen interest in racing, his writing previously featured on Casquettes and Bidons.
-
-
Bikes of the Atlas Mountain Race 2023: from comfort gravellers to speed weapons, here’s what caught our eye
Covering 1,300km / 800mi of Morocco’s gravel roads and mountain passes, the Atlas Mountain Race demands a tech-heavy approach for its 3+ days of bikepacking racing
By Stefan Abram • Published
-
British champion Cameron Mason hoping for rain at Cyclo-cross World Championships
British national champion says patience will be the key in what’s expected to be a fast race in Hoogerheide, the Netherlands
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Julian Alaphilippe: 'When you have the rainbow jersey on your shoulders, it’s harder to live'
The Frenchman bears all on the pressure of being world champion
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
CW Live: Julian Alaphilippe to begin season with Faun-Ardèche Classic; Caleb Ewan confirmed for Milan-San Remo; autopsy confirms impact with truck killed Davide Rebellin; Remco Evenepoel to start 2023 at Vuelta a San Juan and UAE Tour dates confirmed
All the need to know news in cycling on 21 December
By Tom Thewlis • Last updated
-
All hail the conquering hero - Brussels goes crazy for Remco Evenepoel
Thousands gather in Belgian capital to sing world champion's name, and hear him DJ
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Mathieu van der Poel's actions 'unbelievable', says father of Worlds assault victim
Dutchman admits he was "wrong" to get involved in situation in Australia
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Mathieu van der Poel at police station night before World Championship road race, abandons
27-year-old man arrested after altercation at hotel Dutch riders were staying in
By Adam Becket • Published
-
2027 'Super Worlds' to be held in France, UCI announces
Almost all cycling events to come together in the French Alps in five years time
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Julian Alaphilippe selected to defend title at World Championships
The Frenchman's condition was in doubt after he abandoned the Vuelta a España
By Tom Davidson • Last updated
-
Don't sleep on Tadej Pogačar, he's a serious World Championship contender
The Slovenian is supremely confident at the moment, and so he should be
By Tom Davidson • Published