At the Grand Prix de Denain, AG2R-Citroën rider Davide Ballerini crashed into a pile of manure, but thankfully his landing was soft.
The Italian, who is currently in his first season with the French WorldTour team, was riding in the peloton when the incident occurred. According to eyewitnesses, Ballerini was attempting to make a pass on the left side of the bunch when he collided with a rider who had crashed in front of him. This caused Ballerini to lose his balance and slide off his bike, sending him into the manure pile.
Despite the rather embarrassing nature of the crash, Ballerini was not seriously injured. He was able to remount and continue racing, eventually finishing the race in 18th place.
Ballerini’s AG2R-Citroën team issued a statement after the race, expressing their relief that their rider had not sustained any serious injuries. They also praised Ballerini for his resilience, noting that he was able to continue in the race despite the unfortunate incident.
The crash serves as a reminder of the dangers that cyclists face on a regular basis. While the incident ended relatively well for Ballerini, other riders have not been so lucky. The cycling community will no doubt be hoping for a more positive outcome in the future.