Alarm and anger have swept through the cycling community after a car found its way onto the course of a race in Germany, coming dangerously close to a rider during competition.
The frightening incident unfolded at the SauerlandRundfahrt 2026, where a Volkswagen somehow entered the closed 13.7-kilometer time trial route and headed directly toward 21-year-old cyclist Louis Leidert.
Disaster was narrowly avoided when the driver, emerging from a bend, appeared to notice Leidert in time and steered up onto the curb as the young rider moved away from a potentially devastating crash.
Footage of the moment also seemed to show another car positioned at a nearby junction, uncomfortably close to Leidert’s racing line.
The alarming clip has spread rapidly across social media and has struck an especially raw nerve, coming just three weeks after British cyclist Finlay Tarling was killed during the Volta a Portugal stage race.
Tarling, who was just 19, died following a collision with a non-race vehicle that was traveling toward him on the road.
The latest footage of vehicles appearing on what should have been a secured race route has intensified criticism from cycling fans, many of whom are demanding tougher safety controls at road cycling events.
One viewer said: “Haven’t we learned anything from the fatal accident with a racer during the race?”
While a fellow cycling lover added: “My company run this evening was better cordoned off.”
A third fan reacted: “With the first oncoming vehicle, things could have ended very badly.
Fortunately, nothing happened. Phew!”
A fourth said: “That is simply unacceptable.”
And another reacted: “Every rider should have refused to ride.”
Tarling passed away last month at the age of just 19 after being hit by a car during the eighth stage of the Volta a Portugal.
Despite a rapid response from the first responders, Tarling suffered cardiorespiratory arrest and couldn’t be revived.
The brother of 2025 points race world champion Josh Tarling, Finlay was a rising star in his own right.
He was a multi-time medallist in junior European track championships and was under contract with the NSN Development Team at the time of the crash.
A GoFundMe has been set up and has raised more than A$180,000 (roughly $129,715.20) so far.
German Ben Zwiehoff won the opening stage time trial, finishing seven seconds ahead of compatriot Miguel Heidemann.
An individual time trial is a race where cyclists ride alone against the clock to cover a set distance in the shortest time.
The SauerlandRundfahrt is a four-day event, concluding with a mountain finale in Winterberg.
