An elderly woman caused a dramatic crash at a junior cycling race in Germany after driving their mobility scooter into the path of oncoming riders.
The pensioner had been looking to get a better view of cyclists competing in the Saarland Trofeo, a junior stage race.
In a bid to get a better vantage point, the woman moved her mobility scooter forwards but only succeeded in entering the road and into the path of the riders.
One rider showed lightning fast reactions by swerving to avoid the collision, but others were not so fortunate.
Dutch rider Paul Vriesman was seen riding into the mobility scooter at full speed and somersaulted through the air and onto the road surface.
Several other riders were also caught up in the incident, with the aftermath seeing a number of the peloton lying on the road amid a series of crashes caused by the pensioner’s actions.
An elderly fan on a mobility scooter caused a frightening crash after driving into the oncoming peloton
Dutch rider Paul Vriesman was seen somersaulting through the air and onto the road, but avoided serious injury despite the incident
Cycling reporter Eemeli called for spectators to use ‘common sense’ and stay off the course following the incident, after confirming riders had fortunately avoided serious injuries.
‘This older spectator caused a seriously dangerous incident today at Saarland Trofeo Juniors by trying to get a better look and entering the course while riders were flying past at full speed,’Â Eemeli wrote on social media.
‘Fortunately, the riders involved escaped without serious injuries despite some spectacular crashes…but it should go without saying: please NEVER enter the RACE COURSE while riders are approaching.Â
‘Even a small step onto the road can have serious consequences at these speeds. This was not even the first incident of this kind during the race. Junior racing is already dangerous enough without spectators making it even more dangerous.
‘Obviously, incidents like this are almost impossible to eliminate entirely, which is why spectators also have a responsibility to use COMMON SENSE and stay off the race course.’
Vriesman, who had directly collided with the scooter, shared footage from the incident and stated he was ‘lost for words’ following the crash.
‘A very nasty looking crash but it looks like I got away with it relatively well,’ Vriesman wrote on Instagram.
‘Didn’t get to finish the race while every stage was feeling like a big step forward.
‘Lost for words on how something like this can happen. So much hard work and yet another setback.’
