Four rescue helicopters and around 50 ambulances were sent to a road near Bad Dürrheim on Sunday, September 7, after two mass crashes tore through the RiderMan cycling race in south-western Germany. By evening, police said as many as 100 riders had been hurt.
The first pile-up happened in a tight left-hand bend between Bad Dürrheim and the village of Biesingen. Too many riders reached the corner at the same moment, police said, and the fall was uncontrolled. “A large number of the cyclists crashed into each other on the road,” according to the police report. A short time later, as the field bunched up again, a second jam brought down more participants.
The count rose through the evening
Early dpa figures put the injured at about 70, with up to 20 seriously hurt. Police could not give a final number at that stage. Later, Sportschau reported up to 100, among them 30 with serious but not life-threatening injuries. Twenty-five people with minor injuries were treated at the scene, and as more riders came forward during the evening, the tally of minor injuries reached 70. The wounded were taken to hospitals and clinics in the region, which triggered a major alarm for local rescue services.
About 1200 people had entered the event. The organizer called it off and stopped the races still under way. Police ruled out any outside interference.
Cause still unconfirmed
Race director Rik Sauser, who also organizes the event, said the riders were travelling at around 70 km/h where the first crash happened. Someone had told him about a burst tire, he said, but he had no confirmation of that.
“Crashes and therefore a certain amount of risk are unfortunately part and parcel of cycling,” Sauser said. He wished everyone involved a speedy and full recovery.
The RiderMan is one of the best-known amateur cycling races in southern Germany and draws hundreds of participants every year. Bad Dürrheim lies east of the Black Forest in Baden-Württemberg.
Sources
- 4 helicopters and 50 hospital cars in action – 100 injured after mass crash
- Up to 70 hurt after mass crash at Germany's Riderman cycle race
