Cyclist Eats It Into The Barriers At Worst Possible Time

Marianne Vos is one of the most accomplished women in the professional peloton. The Dutch rider has won 12 World Championships and two gold medals across every discipline of cycling save mountain biking, and she’s only 28. She was in position to win a nine-up sprint at Dwars door Westhoek yesterday when she ate it straight into the barriers after it appears her back wheel slipped out.

Based on the location of the 25-meter marker, Vos fell within the last 10 meters of the race, which is just about the cruelest time to fall. I’m not sure she would’ve won if she managed to steady herself out, but she positioned herself perfectly for the sprint (except for the whole barrier thing) until her wheel slipped. She admitted she leaned too far forward for the sprint and said she didn’t suffer any serious injuries (Dutch):

I was in front, but noticed that there was someone coming. I gave it some extra power, but my rear wheel came up off the cobblestones and I was launched into the fence. My own fault because I was leaning too far forward. The center of gravity was too far in front.

This crash wasn’t in as high stakes of a race as Fernando Gaviria’s Milan-San Remo tipover, but unlike him, Vos was right on the cusp of a win.

h/t CyclingTips