Female spectator hospitalised following crash at Tour Down Under

An incident occurred at the Tour Down Under cycling race on Saturday night, where a female spectator was injured and is currently receiving treatment in hospital. The accident took place at the final high-speed bend of the Villawood Classic race.

Andrea Raccagni of the Italian Quick-Step team appeared to clip the inner barrier on the final bend, subsequently sliding onto the road, causing multiple riders to crash into the barriers. The event organizers stated in a release: "During the final lap of the Villawood Men's Classic on Saturday night, a number of riders collided, resulting in a high-speed impact with the barriers. Unfortunately, a female spectator was injured as a result and has been transported to hospital for treatment. We are not able to provide an update on her condition at this time."

The event organizers also stated: "We are in contact with the injured spectator's family and have offered them our support. We extend our sympathies to the spectator and her family, as well as the riders affected by the incident." It is unclear how many riders went off course and crashed into the barriers. An event official stated that some riders were going about 20 kilometers per hour faster on the final bend than in previous laps.

Race winner Sam Welsford said in an interview with Channel Seven: "On the last corner, I was so close to the barrier. I checked (under my arm) and saw it was tight, I probably had a meter, so I just put the gas on. The rest is history. That corner was so fast. If we had gone wide on the corner, anything could have happened."

Italian rider Manilo Moro was the only rider who did not finish the one-hour race due to the incident. He was seen being helped back to the team's pit area by Movistar team staff, looking in poor condition, minutes after the race. New Zealand sprinter Campbell Stewart, who rides for the Australian Jayco-Continental team, was also seen tending to his right hand as he slowly rode back to the team pit area after the race.