An Irish cycling club which is running a winter gravel series has accused a van driver of deliberately "buzzing" - very closely passing - riders in the event, with four of the participants being run off the road.
The images above shows how close the oncoming pass was, with one of the riders clearly being forced off the road after trying to take evasive action not to be hit by the wing mirror of the van.
The club has also claimed someone inside the van could be heard shouting "watch this" as they happened upon the riders on the narrow road.
"Last Sunday, we witnessed some fantastic racing in the final round of the Clare Gravel League," West Clare Cycling Club said. "This being the first year of the league, its purpose was to promote gravel/off-road cycling in West Clare and to raise funds for the new Youth Development Gravel Track."
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However, while €1,150 has been raised, the club said last Sunday's event "wasn’t all plain sailing" despite strong support from riders and volunteers.
"During the return leg of Sunday’s event, a very serious incident occurred. A... van deliberately buzzed four of our participants, forcing them off the road in what appeared to be a purposeful attempt to intimidate or harm. The driver reportedly shouted 'watch this!' as they forced the riders into the ditch.
"This behavior is incredibly disheartening. It's hard to believe that someone in our small community would show such a blatant disregard for the safety of their neighbors or perhaps even the children who attend the same schools.
"We are relieved to report that all the riders are okay, but it’s frightening to think that with just one more inch, the outcome could have been very different.
"Once again, thank you to everyone who supported the league and helped make it a success. We remain committed to promoting the safety and growth of gravel cycling in West Clare, and we will continue to work together to create a supportive and secure environment for all participants."
