True sportsmanship, fairness and honor were on display at the Underberg Gran Fondo gravel race in South Africa Saturday morning, when race leader Josh Rheeders was involved in a serious solo crash.

Organizers report about halfway through the 140 kilometer long race Rheeders was leading, about 30 seconds up on chasers, when he crashed heavily and ended up unconscious in the middle of the road still clipped into his pedals. The cause of the crash is unclear.

When the chasing peloton, including last year’s winner Tyronne White, Kevin Benkenstein and Warren Moolman, arrived at the crash scene they immediately stopped to render aid, staying with Rheeders for 35 minutes until ambulance arrived.

“I think it was probably one of the scariest things I’ve come across in my riding career,” White said afterwards. “I am just glad Josh is now okay. He was on his back and unconscious when we arrived, but he came around eventually when we were there, and I believe he is now okay.

Eventual race winner Frederick Rossouw also came upon the scary scene, with White, Benkenstein and Moolman selflessly telling him to continue racing after the ambulance arrived.

Rossouw held on to finish in 4:55:03 and earn the win. Good Samaritans Tyrone White and Kevin Benkenstein eventually got back to racing and were next at 5:00:00 in that order, with Warren Moolman in fifth place at 5:13:09.

Riding for the British CJ O’Shea Racing team, reigning South African Road Race Champion S’annara Grove dominated the women’s race, winning in 5:00:05. Runner up Rouxda Grobler rode in 41 minutes later, with defending champion Sanchia Malan next.

Dan Van Hemert won the 94 kilometer medio length race in 3:16:38, with Nadine Nunes taking the women’s win in 4:45:43

Complete Underberg Gran Fondo gravel results HERE

Photo Credit: Facebook/underberggranfondo

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