Video: Dangerous scenes as two cars enter Sauerlandrundfahrt time trial course
Race safety has once again come under scrutiny after Lidl-Trek Future Racing rider Louis Leidert encountered two cars during Thursday’s opening individual time trial at the Sauerlandrundfahrt.
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The German rider was first confronted by a vehicle travelling towards him on the course while he was riding at speed. Both Leidert and the driver were forced to react, with the car moving onto the pavement as the rider changed his line to avoid a collision.
A second incident followed shortly afterwards near the finish. Another car was travelling ahead of Leidert on the course, forcing him to slow before the vehicle eventually turned off into a side road.
Leidert was able to complete the time trial without crashing, but the presence of regular traffic on the route has raised questions over how the course was secured.
Footage of the incidents quickly circulated on social media and drew added attention in the wake of the recent death of 19-year-old Finlay Tarling. The Welsh rider died after colliding with a van travelling in the opposite direction during the Tour of Portugal.
The Sauerlandrundfahrt is a new UCI 2.2 stage race. Its opening 14 kilometre time trial in Brilon was won by Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe rider Ben Zwiehoff, who is competing here for the team’s Rookies development squad.
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