This is the moment Lizzie Armitstead went from two-handed salute to horror smash. Photographers were huddled at the spot where she crashed and the crowd control barriers also appeared to poke into the riders’ path just after the finish line.
These videos show the moment victory turned to horror in a split second for one of the best riders in the world, Lizzie Armitstead.
The Briton had just won the opening stage of the Aviva Women's Tour in Aldeburgh in the UK this afternoon when something went very wrong.
The Boels Dolmans rider and London Olympic silver medallist is seen in the clip above and the one below reaching for her bars very quickly and apparently losing control as she tried to slow.
The moment of impact is not captured but Armitstead clearly fell very heavily at top speed.
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Always and extremely popular rider, Armitstead is also in a relationship with Irish rider Philip Deignan of Team Sky.
She was treated on the road by paramedics four around 30 minutes before being taken away in a neck brace.
The spot where she fell looks busy with lots of photographers and some officials also standing by the side of the road at the impact point.
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It looks from the footage that Armitstead may have lost control of her bike and veered left; perhaps after it was caught by a gust of wind.
She then ploughs into the cluster of photographers and officials, which look to be very close to the finish line.
The organisers of the race, Sweetspot, said her condition was unclear but other sources suggest she had broken her leg.
A statement by Sweetspot said: “After crossing the line with her hands in the air, stage winner Lizzie Armitstead appeared to lose control and veer left, clipping photographers positioned across the finish line.
“Lizzie was immediately attended to by race medical staff at the finish line who dealt with the incident before she was taken to hospital.
“Everyone from the Aviva Women’s Tour wishes Lizzie all the best for a speedy recovery and will make no further comment at this stage.”
If you look at the top of this photo - just left of centre - you will see the roadside barriers on the riders' left veering onto the road and narrowing it just after the finish line. There is also a cluster of people - mostly photographers - standing just beyond where the road narrows. It is at that spot that Armitstead came down hard.
Armitstead – at the bottom of the shot – looks like she is just about to hit the photographer with the black motorbike helmet or the grey-haired man just behind him; we think the latter.
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