The 38th edition of the LVM Saarland Trofeo Juniors concluded on Saturday 14 June with a result overshadowed by one of the strangest crashes in recent junior racing memory: an elderly spectator on a mobility scooter rolled onto the live course in Habkirchen, Germany, triggering a multi-rider pile-up on the final stage.
Near the conclusion of the race, an elderly woman rolled onto the road and collided directly with Dutch talent Paul Vriesman, a development rider from the Decathlon CMA CGM setup, launching him into a full somersault over his handlebars. One rider managed to swerve around the scooter before Vriesman struck it, while several other cyclists hit the asphalt in the aftermath.
Vriesman later posted on his Instagram story: “A very nasty looking crash, but it looks like I got away with it relatively well. Didn’t get to finish the race while every stage was feeling like a big step forward. Lost for words on how something like this can happen.”
Cycling journalist Eemeli, who covered the race on the ground, confirmed that all riders involved “escaped without major injuries” and noted the spectator appeared to edge forward for a closer look at the peloton passing at full speed.
Reports indicate the woman on the scooter also avoided serious injury, although the vehicle reportedly sustained damage.
Despite the chaos, racing continued. Norway’s 18-year-old Sindre Orholm-Lønseth, who had built his overall lead earlier on Saturday, defended it through the final hilly stage from Habkirchen-Frauenberg to Reinheim to claim the overall title in 10:27:01. Splinter van ‘t Hoff finished second overall and Elias Wändel third, while the final stage itself was won by Alistair Forsyth.
The Saarland Trofeo, part of the UCI Junior Nations’ Cup, has helped launch the careers of riders including Michal Kwiatkowski, Brandon McNulty and Mads Pedersen.
Saturday’s incident will inevitably reignite debate around crowd management at amateur races, where barriers and marshalling resources are often less robust than at the professional level.
Photo Credit: X/flaschenbuddel
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