Video: Rider at race in California clings onto bridge parapet to avoid drop into ravine after crash

You wonder what the organisers of the Santa Barbara Road Race were thinking when they decided on having a sprint finish on a bridge above a ravine. A whole host of riders were affected by a crash, but it was Carefast-Storck’s Mike Allec who was left clinging to the guardrail to avoid a 30 foot drop.

In footage from the bike of Peter Aquino, we see Allec, in blue, hit prone riders and almost roll over the side before catching hold.

Deadspin reports that he was okay – but this was where his bike ended up.

In a statement on Facebook, Carefast-Stock said:

“This weekend at the Santa Barbara Road Race our team rider and manager Mike Allec was involved in a spectacular crash in the final sprint that left him hanging off of a bridge above a ravine (30ft below). We are very thankful for the outpouring support from many who were there and more importantly those that helped him off of the bridge.

“Words cannot express the gratitude for him being able to walk away from this with road rash, this could have ended much much worse.”