Before the junior version of the Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne classic was even properly underway there was a bad mishap that took out the front section of the bunch.
Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne juniors hadn’t even begun when a number of riders at the front of the peloton found themselves crashing to the tarmac.
They were packed in tightly behind the lead car, rolling along to get the neutralised section underway, when the mishap occurred.
The cyclists were literally on the back bumper of the car, a regular occurrence at bike races, when the car jammed on.
And the instant it stalled or stopped, the riders crashed into the back of the vehicle and were in a heap on the tarmac.
Whether the driver mistakenly hit the brakes or the car stalled is unclear. Some reports speculated an automatic braking system on the car may have been responsible.
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However, while a number of cyclists had come up the side of the car and had just nudged ahead of it, the road was clear immediately to the front.
The race organisers believe something went wrong with the car's automatic gear box, causing it to stall suddenly.
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Either way, a group of juniors got a shock and were down on the wet road at kilometre zero. Luckily none were seriously injured and the race was started about 20 minutes later.
It was won after 123km by Dutch rider Casper Van Uden from French rider Antonin Corvaisier. Dutch teenager Bodi del Grosso was 3rd.
Ireland had three riders in the race, the best result coming from Finley Newmark.
He was 24th at 2:38; riding under Irish nationality in the colours of South East Region BC.
Archie Ryan (Zappi Juniors Racing) was 60th at 4:28. His team mate and fellow Irish international Shay Donley was a non finisher.
Lead car jams on and takes out riders at Junior Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne Classic
?️Streetjump-Forte Development Team#KBK19 #KBKJuniors #KBK2019 pic.twitter.com/CylKhgl3yS
— Sticky Bottle (@sticky_bottle) March 3, 2019
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