Tricky conditions caused chaos at the penultimate round of the Cyclocross World Cup in Fiuggi, Italy.
Sunday's warm conditions caused the frost of previous days to melt, causing muddy and slippery conditions in many areas of the course.
The main victim of the conditions was Toon Aerts (Telenet Fidea Lions), with the Belgian suffering a two fractures to his shoulder after crashing into a tree on the sixth lap of the race, ruling him out of the World Championships in Luxembourg in two weeks time.
>>> Watch: Slippery descent causes muddy chaos in the US Cyclocross Championships
There was also a bad crash in the women's race, with Alice Maria Arzuffi (Selle Italia-Guerciotti) colliding with the same tree as Aerts. Despite having to be carried off the course on a stretch, Arzuffi suffered no broken bones.
The men's race was won by Wout Van Aert (Crelan-Charles), who extended his lead at the top of the World Cup standings, while the women's race was won by Marianne Vos (WM3 Pro Cycling).
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
-
Watch: Cyclo-cross rider snaps dislocated finger back into place mid-raceMichael van den Ham said his finger was at "the grossest 45-degree angle"
-
17-year-old CX rider ‘catapulted’ into layby by tractor scores top ten finish at national champs
Raph Tabiner from Warrington nearly gave up racing all together after shocking incident
-
Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel deserve big CX appearance fees, says British champ
British national champion says Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel receive high appearance fees for a reason
-
Zoe Bäckstedt obliterates all competition to become British female national cyclocross champion
After overcoming a difficult start, Cameron Mason destroyed the field to take the men’s title
-
From learning to read again to racing Wout van Aert: Ben Frederick's journey to the top of cyclo-cross
The American suffered a traumatic brain injury in 2016, but has refound his love for cycling and has ridden some elite CX races this winter
-
Wout van Aert wins round 12 of the Men's Cyclocross World Cup in the Zonhoven sandpit
The early stages suggested it was going to be a battle between the top four, but Van Aert went clear and never looked back
-
Shirin van Anrooij wins Zonhoven round of the Cyclocross World Cup
Shirin van Anrooij was simply the best rider on the day as she coped best with the sandy course
-
Wout van Aert claims most dominant cyclo-cross win of the season at X20 Trofee Koksijde
The Belgian mastered the sand ruts to beat Mathieu van der Poel by over a minute and a half
