Riders at a cyclocross race in Belgium had to dodge a dog after it somehow got onto the course, trailing its leash behind it.
The incident happened today at the Druivencross race in the town of Overijse, which lies just to the south east of the capital, Brussels.
The front pair, including Mathieu van der Poel in the rainbow bands of world champion, had already crossed the finish line to begin a new lap when the stray animal began chasing after them.
Bad dog #cyclocross #druivencross pic.twitter.com/LpKjf6WcOE
— (@FulSpeed) December 15, 2019
The following riders had to swerve to avoid the animal, with one even forced to come to a halt as marshals and race officials tried to catch the canine.
Victory went to van der Poel, who was back to winning days after yesterday losing a cyclo-cross race for the first time in more than a year as Toon Aerts won the Hotondcross.
Previous incidents involving dogs getting among the riders at bike races include one at the 2012 Tour de France in which a Pyrenean mountain dog got away from its owners and caused a crash in the peloton.
Video footage showed Philippe Gilbert berating the dog’s owners afterwards in no uncertain terms over their failure to control it.




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6 thoughts on “Video: Riders forced to dodge dog at cyclo-cross race in Belgium”
Looks like he wanted to take
Looks like he wanted to take part in the lead-out.
If that was my whippet he’d
If that was my whippet he’d be way ahead of the riders. Me and my youngest sometimes cycle with the dog and he loves trotting alongside us. We’ve ridden round our club BMX track with him too and he seems to delight in making the jumps. Normal commuting speed on a bicycle is an easy trot for a sight hound.
I’m surprised they didn’t
I’m surprised they didn’t paws the race.
not my local council but
not my local council but adjacent and down under (hence the odd looking weed)…telling it like it is on a shared path
That could have ended quite
That could have ended quite badly. Some pet owners are in dire need of training.
Looks like a crossbreed to me
Looks like a crossbreed to me…