Call for ban on racing "head-down" after gruesome Küng crash | Video | Sticky Bottle

*Stefan Küng smashed the front of his TT helmet and was covered in blood but still continued to race on in the Netherlands during the TT at the European Road Championships*

Former UCI president, Brian Cookson, has called for a ban on riders racing TTs in a head-down position after the gruesome crash involving Swiss rider Stefan Küng in the elite TT at the European Road Championships in the Netherlands.

Küng, who has won the Europeans twice, crashed into roadside barriers while he had his head down. He smashed the front of his TT helmet in the heavy fall but got back on his bike and finished the TT, even placing 11th.

Having suffered wounds during the fall, by the time he finished his race his face, jersey and even his legs were covered in blood.

It appeared Küng was being guided by the white line painted at the roadside to his left while he had his head down, to get more aero during his effort. However, when the roadside barriers swept out into the road, Küng rode into them. He realised his mistake but it was too late to correct his line and he crashed heavily. He appeared to hit his face and head off the barriers as he crashed.

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Cookson, the former UCI chief, Tweeted out a video of the crash, saying: "The crazy trend for head down riding in time trials strikes again - ⁦UCI really must look at the technical rules to stop this."

The UCI has already banned a number of road racing positions, including "super tuck" descending - when riders used to effectively sit on the top tube to get as aero as they could. Riding with forearms on handlebars - a very popular aero position, especially for riders in breakaways - has also been banned by the UCI for road racing.