The Eneco Tour has been praised by riders for its initiative to send motorbikes on alternative routes to avoid passing the peloton at pinch points, but that didn't stop a moto nearly wiping out the lead riders as it crashed on a roundabout.
The lead motorcycle took a wide line out of a roundabout in the closing stages of stage four, clipping a bollard and skidding across the road just in front of three riders off the front of the peloton.
Astana pair Andrei Grivko and Dmitriy Gruzdev were with Trek-Segafredo's Jasper Stuyven around 50 metres off the front of the pack when the incident occurred, with all three riders safely navigating the bike.
Motorbike-related incidents have unfortunately been quite common in the past two seasons, with Antoine Démoitié dying of his injuries after being hit by a bike at Ghent-Wevelgem.
Earlier in the season, Stig Broeckx (Lotto-Soudal) was knocked off at Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne and remains in a serious condition in hospital after being hit a second time at the Belgium Tour.
Then, Elia Viviani (Team Sky) was hit from behind following a crash at Paris-Roubaix among a host of incidents that have brought the spotlight on rider safety at races.
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
-
-
Extinction Rebellion stages anti-Shell protest at British Track Champs
Two people carried a banner through the stands at Newport's Geraint Thomas National Velodrome
-
60% of motorists unaware of Highway Code changes, one year after introduction
Charity Cycling UK has called on the government to raise awareness of the updates
-
Caleb Ewan flies to stage five victory at Benelux Tour 2021
The race lead changed after Stefan Bissegger was dropped
-
Taco van der Hoorn wins stage three of Benelux Tour 2021 as break holds off bunch
The peloton struggled to pull back to break due to some important riders getting mechanicals
-
Remco Evenepoel 'couldn't eat anything until one hour before the time trial' at Benelux Tour as he considers abandoning
The former European time trial champion finished almost 40 seconds down on stage winner Stefan Bissegger
-
Stefan Bissegger storms to impressive victory in Benelux Tour stage two time trial
The Swiss rider beat some of the world's best time triallists including Stefan Küng and Remco Evenepoel
-
'You should realise your mistake': Remco Evenepoel shouts at Gianni Vermeersch after opening stage of Benelux Tour 2021
The young Belgian had a very long wait for his front wheel to be changed by neutral service
-
Mathieu van der Poel will not race Benelux Tour, team confirm, but should recover in time for Worlds and Roubaix
The defending champion was hoping to ride the WorldTour race to prepare for the World Championships and Paris-Roubaix
-
Søren Kragh Andersen smashes fast and furious stage four time trial at BinckBank Tour 2020
Søren Kragh Andersen was dominant on the tight and winding country lanes of Belgium, taking victory in the rescheduled BinckBank Tour 2020 time trial on stage four.
-
Mads Pedersen fights to hard-earned sprint victory on stage three of BinckBank Tour 2020
Mads Pedersen sprinted to a hard-earned victory after an attritional stage three of the BinckBank Tour 2020.
