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Videos: Neutral service car knocks two cyclists out of Tour of Flanders

Shimano vehicle hits Jesse Sergent, then rear-ends team car into Sebastien Chavanel

A Shimano neutral service car at the Tour of Flanders today knocked Trek Factory Racing rider Jesse Sergent off his bike, with another incident seeing a Shimano vehicle rear-end an FDJ.Fr car that had stopped to provide assistance to Sebastien Chavanel - the impact shunting the French team's car into the cyclist.

Here's the incident involving Sergent, part of a seven-rider breakaway group and who was confirmed afterwards to have broken his collarbone.

Here's the one which resulted in Chavanal being knocked off his bike - he too took no further part in the race.

During the 2011 Tour de France a car belonging to host broadcaster France Televisions swerved into the path of Juan Antonio Flecha, then with Team Sky, causing him to crash and cataputing Vacansolei-DCM's Jonny Hoogerland into a barbed wire fence.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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25 comments

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TheHound | 8 years ago
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Whenever you see in car footage during races it always makes me cringe how little time the driver spends with his eyes on the road or hands on the wheel.

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Paul J | 8 years ago
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The Skibby video is insane. Didn't just knock him over, then drove over the bottom of the bike while Skibby was still strapped in. Could easily have broken his ankle or leg.

Note the following Niewsblad car also knocks into the man trying to help Skibby.

Driving a car turns many people into unthinking, dangerous nutters - even as part of a bike race.

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Gkam84 | 8 years ago
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1987......Jesper Skibby gets hit by car of race director

https://youtu.be/j03obuRAHiM

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Kadinkski | 8 years ago
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AJ101 | 8 years ago
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I hope they get some sort of compensation for the damage they suffered.

Also, are even the drivers on the tramadol as well now?

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skippy replied to AJ101 | 8 years ago
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For what it is worth " Compo " will be a LONG TIME Arriving ! Was it not mentioned in this forum , recently , that Hoogerlands is still awaiting the " Compo " from the TDF of 2012 ?

With UCI requiring Helmets , it seems that the " Neutral Service " people need to spray the Volvo Paint on their headwear , so that the Racers will know to keep out of their way ?

WHY , does the " Neutral service vehicle " need to be IN FRONT of the Racers ? It would appear they were trying to ensure they were as useful as a spare tyre on a Race Bike ?

UCI are unable to organise an " International Umbrella Org. for Cycle Safety Advocacy " , so what greater chance do the Racers have when out training on the roads that we use for our purposes ? Time the National Cycling Federations were " Singing from the Same Song Sheet " , so that Laws like Presumed Liability & Safe Pass of Cyclists are PART of ALL National Road Codes rather than just an after thought on someones wish list .

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alfreddo | 8 years ago
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At the risk of sounding like I've had a sense of humour failure, I'm a little saddened that we're 16 comments in and no-one's expressed any concern about the fellow cyclists involved. No injury or accident is good if cycling is your means of paying the bills in the future. Best wishes to both of them.

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Housecathst replied to alfreddo | 8 years ago
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alfreddo wrote:

At the risk of sounding like I've had a sense of humour failure, I'm a little saddened that we're 16 comments in and no-one's expressed any concern about the fellow cyclists involved. No injury or accident is good if cycling is your means of paying the bills in the future. Best wishes to both of them.

Surely given recent news stores (or just the generally crap treatment cyclists get from car drivers and the law) you can understand the gallows humour.

I think it goes without saying that we wish both riders a speedy recovery.

Healing vibes and all than.

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GerardR replied to alfreddo | 8 years ago
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I agree, while also wondering why it's called a NEUTRAL service car. Bad luck for those guys right at the beginning of the season.

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Redvee | 8 years ago
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A bit of t-cut and polish and it'll be good as new  16

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CB13IpvUsAEUm1-.jpg:large

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1860 | 8 years ago
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Best unintended Campagnolo ad ever.... a stupid tragedy though.

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matthewn5 | 8 years ago
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Wouldn't have happened if they'd been riding Steel bikes.

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Flying Scot | 8 years ago
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Wouldn't have happened with Campag.....

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portec | 8 years ago
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It's just as well they were wearing helmets or they'd both be dead now.

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leqin | 8 years ago
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Bastards - I bet they were busy watching the race on their bloody iPhones.

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andyp | 8 years ago
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They both had earphones in. Everyone knows that is what makes cars hit you.

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don simon fbpe | 8 years ago
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I didn't see any cyclists, the sun was in my eyes though.

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forcrz6 | 8 years ago
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Well what did you expect. he was not in the bike lane and nowhere in the rules does it say that they have to share the road.

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koosiegreen | 8 years ago
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Looks like there were a few trainees out there today.

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Grizzerly | 8 years ago
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How could these riders possibly have been in accidents with cars? They were both wearing helmets, and everyone knows wearing a helmet stops cars hitting you.

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pakennedy | 8 years ago
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No hi-viz again then  1

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Das | 8 years ago
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TBH Im only surprised the second type of accident never happens more often.

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GrahamH | 8 years ago
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Clarkson got a new job then  39

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HalfWheeler | 8 years ago
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Obviously the riders fault. He wasn't using one of those Bontrager daytime lights.

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Gus T replied to HalfWheeler | 8 years ago
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HalfWheeler wrote:

Obviously the riders fault. He wasn't using one of those Bontrager daytime lights.

Don't you mean Volvo Life Paint.  19

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