The rider of a bike has died following a crash with a competitor in an Ironman triathlon European championship race Sunday, police within the occasion’s host metropolis of Hamburg stated. A triathlete who witnessed the accident stated he “noticed the bike explode into what felt like a thousand items.”
Police stated there was a head-on crash when a race assist bike carrying a rider and a passenger collided with a triathlete who was biking in the wrong way.
“We’re devastated by this tragic accident,” a press release from the Ironman Group stated. “On a day meant to be a celebration of the human spirit, we as an alternative mourn the lack of a member of our triathlon group.”
TV footage confirmed the incident occurred on a piece of street the place rivals have been driving in each instructions as a part of a loop within the course for the biking part of the race. Motorbikes carrying digital camera operators have been driving down the center of the street.
Police stated in a press release that the 70-year-old bike rider died on the scene, a 26-year-old triathlete was handled for extreme accidents and a 50-year-old digital camera operator was handled in hospital for shock. Police have been investigating how the crash occurred.
Georg Wendt/image alliance through Getty Pictures
“At 36 (kilometers) of the IRONMAN Hamburg bike course, a bike race automobile, carrying an official race photographer, was concerned in a collision with a race participant,” Ironman organizers stated in an earlier assertion.
“It’s with our deepest remorse to verify the passing of the motorbike operator from a big medical occasion. Our ideas and care are with the household whom we’ll assist as we’re ready whereas they undergo this troublesome time.”
The race continued however German public broadcaster ARD stated it determined to finish its stay stream as a gesture of respect.
The stretch of street the place the accident occurred was “extremely tight”, German triathlete Jan Frodeno stated after crossing the end line.
“I used to be proper subsequent to it and noticed the bike explode into what felt like a thousand items,” the previous Olympic champion stated.
Police blocked off the street, forcing rivals within the occasion to dismount from their bikes to go across the scene.
Individuals within the Hamburg Ironman triathlon — a 3.8-kilometre swim, a 180-kilometer biking course and a marathon-length footrace — are competing for the European title, in addition to qualification for the world championships later this yr in Good, France.
Denis Chevrot from France received the lads’s race.
AFP contributed to this report.
