BAt the Ironman European Championships in Hamburg, the driver of an escort motorcycle was killed in a serious accident. After about 2:25 hours, the motorcycle pilot collided head-on with a participant on the bike course on Sunday. The police operations manager confirmed to the ARD sports show that the motorcyclist had died at the scene of the accident.
The participant was seriously injured, but according to the current status not in mortal danger. The cameraman on the motorcycle was slightly injured and was taken to the hospital like the participant. First “Bild.de” reported on the consequences of the accident, which happened around 8.45 a.m. 20 rescue workers and a rescue helicopter were deployed after the accident, and the police closed the section of the route. According to a report by the “Sportschau” there are three seriously injured.
ARD canceled the online broadcast via live stream. “It’s a sad situation for such a big sporting event,” said the police operations manager on ARD. It was not clear at first whether the race would also be stopped. The accident happened on a straight stretch on a dike. The collision occurred for unknown reasons. However, there is a turning point in the race nearby, which means that participants and also support vehicles have to pass each other on the track in opposite directions.
A little later, there were absurd scenes when participants carried their bicycles over the dyke to the scene of the accident. Immediately after the accident, nine participants who had already passed the spot were able to continue the race. Everyone else had to pause behind the scene of the accident. However, there was no termination. The rating of the race, whether canceled or ended, which is about qualifying for the World Championship in addition to the European title, was initially unclear.
Actually, the 41-year-old Jan Frodeno should be the focus on Sunday. At his first Ironman race in almost two years, the Olympic champion and world record holder in Hamburg wanted to say goodbye to the German audience before the end of his career. The ARD announced that Frodeno would “most likely” not end the competition regardless of the organizers’ decision. Accordingly, he could not imagine how he “should cross the finish line with a happy face in downtown Hamburg”.
