Cycling star Tom Pidcock had a moment to forget as he crashed his bike and toppled over the handlebars while leading the GP Sven Nys cyclo-cross race in Belgium.
The cyclo-cross world champion had a slender lead of around 10 seconds when the crash happened on a slippery section of the course. The 23-year-old, from Yorkshire, was sent flying towards the crowd at high-speed before being halted by some rope and safety netting which got tangled with his leg and bike.
Belgian rider and one of Pidcock's long-term rivals Eli Iserbyt took full advantage of the crash to win the race ahead of team-mate Michael Vanthourenhout, while clearly in pain Pidcock limped over the line in third.
Pidcock had taken the lead early in the race, watched by 6,200 spectators, but was put under pressure throughout by the Belgian chasers. The Ineos Grenadiers who is Olympic Games mountain bike champion described the high-speed crash as 'stupid'.
"I'm a little bit shaken, it was a stupid crash," said Pidcock talking to Eurosport after the race.
"I hope it was on television at least. I was not feeling very good today but I wanted to try and make a fast last lap. So I was trying to go a little bit faster everywhere. Obviously, this is a dangerous section so that was not the best idea."
The treacherous pump track section of the course resulted in several competitors crashing during in the men's and women's race. With victory in his sight Pidcock took some air after jumping over one mud mound before losing control.
Pidcock was asked if his small jump before losing control led to the crash? The British star replied: "Maybe.
"When you're going that fast it's sometimes easier to jump rather than stay on the floor. I wasn't being stupid or anything - I was thinking about doing a whip but I thought maybe not.
Pidcock quickly got back on his bike but struggled to get back going and was helpless as Iserbyt made his late winning move. The world champion's leg was cut as a result of the crash and Vanthourenhout also beat the Brit for second.
"I tried," added Pidock. "It was not bad but my leg is pretty bruised now so we will see. The cut is not the problem but the bruise underneath, I'll see how it is later. At the moment I'm full of adrenaline still."
