Nicole Hanselmann, the former national road cycling champion of Switzerland, was participating in a one-day road cycling race in Belgium when she broke free from the women’s pack and built a two-minute lead.
She was racing so fast, in fact, that she caught up to the last few vehicles from the men’s race. Although the men’s and women’s races started at the same location, event organizers were unprepared for the overlap and asked Hanselmann to stop by the roadside and allow for some space to form between the two races.
When the race began again, Hanselmann was allowed a head start, but after the break in racing and the cold conditions, the rest of the racers soon caught up with her. Hanselmann crossed the finish line in 74th place.
“It was a bit sad for me because I was in a good mood and when the bunch sees you stopping, they just get a new motivation to catch you,”
Hanselmann told Cyclingnews. “I think we stopped for five or seven minutes and then it just kills your chances.”
