EF Education First-Drapac rider Lawson Craddock emerged unhurt from a spectacular crash during the closing stage of the Tour of the Basque Country yesterday.
Video captured by a spectator at the roadside showed the American rider hitting a parked car as the peloton came downhill and rounded a left-hand bend during the 164-kilometre stage from Eibar to Arrate.
Milagro cómo sale el @Ride_Argyle sin que aparentemente le pase nada (el coche está bien aparcado y la curva no es peligrosa. Es un descuido) pic.twitter.com/xCGQW4jyCG
— aitortoto (@aitortoto) April 7, 2018
Despite the force of the impact – Craddock subsequently posted a picture of the damage to the bonnet and windscreen of the car – the Texan rider was unhurt, and almost executed a perfect landing. He did, however, abandon the stage, and pinned the blame for the crash on a Euskadi rider.
— Lawson Craddock (@lawsoncraddock) April 7, 2018
Retweeting the footage of the crash, Craddock’s team mate Alex Howes said:
@lawsoncraddock put on a clinic yesterday @ehitzulia. Here he demonstrates nearly perfect form for hitting/getting hit by a car. He got a 9.6 from the judges. 10/10 if he'd stuck the landing. Don't worry, he's as fine as fine can be. The car... not so much. #TheTexasTwoStep
Simon has been news editor at road.cc since 2009, reporting on 10 editions and counting of pro cycling’s biggest races such as the Tour de France, stories on issues including infrastructure and campaigning, and interviewing some of the biggest names in cycling. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, his background has proved invaluable in reporting on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, and the bike industry. He splits his time between London and Cambridge, and loves taking his miniature schnauzer Elodie on adventures in the basket of her Elephant Bike.