The finish of the third stage of the Vuelta Ciclista a Venezuela ended in a massive crash after an official race motorbike cut across the peloton as they began to sprint towards the finish line.

Footage shared on social media shows the moment a race motorbike pulls up on the right-hand side of the road in the stage finish town of Santa Elena de Arenales to allow an offical to dismount.

Venezuela crash 1
Venezuela crash 1 (Image Credit: (@TorresMouzza/Twitter))

 

The motorbike rider then moves to turn around to exit the course as the sprinter’s approach. 

Venezuela crash 2
Venezuela crash 2 (Image Credit: (@TorresMouzza/Twitter))

 

The first sprinters see the bike but swerve too late to prevent crashes behind.

Venezuela crash 3
Venezuela crash 3 (Image Credit: (@TorresMouzza/Twitter))

 

The resulting crash sends both the pilot and cyclists to the floor as bikes start flying in the air. Screams are heard on the video.

Venezuela crash 4
Venezuela crash 4 (Image Credit: (@TorresMouzza/Twitter))

The aftermath shows spectators, riders and officials sprawled across the ground and broken finish line barriers.

Venezuela crash 6 (after)
Venezuela crash 6 (after) (Image Credit: (@TorresMouzza/Twitter))

Local media later reported that three cyclists, the motorbike pilot and a race judge were taken to hospital with minor injuries. Race doctors were also quickly spotted at the scene.

The stage was won by Leangel Linarez, riding for the Portuguese Continental Tavfer-Ovos Matinados-Mortágua team. The race has existed in its modern iteration since 2004 and is a 2.2 level race, meaning it is contested by a mix of continental, domestic and amateur teams. Venezuelan sprinter Orluis Aular won the race overall in 2019 and 2020 and is currently riding for Movistar in the Vuelta a España.