[wpbrad id=125]

The Red Hook Crit London was hit by rain at the weekend. And suddenly racing on track bikes with no brakes on city streets became even sketchier than usual. There were major spills in the both women's race, above, and the men's event.

Crash carnage at London Red Hook Crit

The Red Hook Crit series now has a London event, having gone global in recent years.

And while it's definitely high octane entertainment, one look at these videos is enough to question the sanity of the riders.

Crashes have been happening in bike race for ever of course. But taking to city streets for fast criterium racing on track bikes with no brakes is high risk.

And when the roads were left wet from a downpour for the Red Hook Crit London at the weekend, spills were inevitable.

The first clip below shows an incredible smash in the women's race. Long after the first fallers went down riders were still coming around the corner and hitting the tarmac.

Related News

Lara Gillespie attacks Dolomite stage as Giro hits high mountains

Video - Italy's hero Balsamo mobbed mid-stage during Giro TT

Some seemed startled at finding bodies on the deck when they rounded the bend. And others didn't seem to know what to do; riding into the barriers in some cases.

Thankfully the word from people at the scene of the women's crash was that all of the injured were tended to at the scene. And they didn't appear to have any catastrophic injuries.

The women’s race was eventually won by Raphaele Lemieux (Team iBike) from Canada.

French rider Eleonore Saraiva (Aventon Factory) was 2nd and Jasmine Dotti (IRD Carrera Squadra Corse), from Italy, was 3rd.

Irish woman Aoife Doherty (The 5th Floor CC) placed 14th.

In the men’s race Italian Filippo Fortin (Team Bahumer) won from compatriot David Vigano (Cinelli Chrome. British ride Alex Briggs (Specialized-Rocket Express) was 3rd.