Dive bombing magpies have left some of the world's best cyclists 'terrified' to venture out on their bikes ahead of this weekend's Road World Championships.
Taking place in Wollongong in Australia, cyclists living in the area had warned of the territorial birds nesting in the area during this time of year. However, it wasn't until the world's best cyclists arrived in New South Wales that the true extent of the danger became clear.
Dutch cyclist Bauke Mollema shared footage on Instagram of him training with his countrymates when a magpie hit his crash helmet from behind causing a moment of panic.
A large amount of magpies live in the city on Australia's east coast and the competition takes place in what is known as 'swooping season'.
Belgium rider and Vuelta a Espana overall winner Remco Evenepoel had a shock during his preparation for the time trial earlier this week when a magpie followed him.
“A fairly large bird came very close and it just kept following me," he told Cyclingnews. "It was terrifying. But that's Australia, apparently. I hope it's the only time it happens, but I am afraid of it."
Australian rider Grace Brown finished silver in the women's time trial and said riders from the home nation were equally as scared of the swooping birds and local cyclists are all too aware of the attacks.
“I’ve been swooped twice already since being here,” she told Guardian Australia. “So it’s not just the international athletes that are worried about it. I get pretty scared by magpies.”
A sign placed in Lang Park, near the finish in Wollongong, warns cyclists to dismount their bikes and walk through the park because of the nesting magpies and asks people to protect their head and eyes.
Vet in the area Dr Paul Parland told Wave FM radio station: "Magpies can be quite territorial and there's going to be a lot going on in their particular areas. Swooping birds tend to target people that are by themselves and also people that are moving in very fast ways.
"Unfortunately I don't think we're going to slow down the cyclists in their race to take a little side breather as the birds swoop by."
