A cyclist from the Isle of Man taking part in the men’s road race at the Commonwealth Games on Saturday got a helping hand from a spectator, who lent him his bike following a crash so he could continue the race.
Sam Brand accepted the offer, although he subsequently abandoned the event. Won by Australia’s Steele von Hoff, with Jon Mould of Wales second and South Africa's Clint Hendricks third.
Speaking to Manx Radio after the race, the 27-year-old Brand, who is diabetic and rides for Team Novo Nordisk, said: “I met some guy up there and he switched bikes with me, some spectator.
“I need to go back up there and find my bike, hopefully.”
There have been a number of examples of riders borrowing bikes to be able to carry on racing, including Michael Rogers being offered one by a fan in the 2007 Tour Down Under. Rogers went on to finish second on that day’s stage.
The 2016 edition of the race saw a spectator who had travelled from New Zealand to Australia to watch the race lend his shoes and bike to Tyler Farrar after the American rider had a crash.
> Tyler Farrar borrows fan's shoes and bike to finish Tour Down Under stage
One of the most famous examples of a rider having to borrow a bike to avoid having to abandon a race happened in the 2010 Tour de France after Jens Voigt crashed on the descent of the Col de Peyresourde.
With his own bike smashed beyond repair and team car way up the road, the German rider declined an invitation to hop aboard the broom wagon, saying he wanted to reach Paris.
As a result, he rode the next 15 kilometres or so on a children’s bike way that was too small for him and with toe clips until he was able to pick up a team bike.
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.