Video: Riders forced to dodge dog at cyclo-cross race in Belgium

Riders at a cyclocross race in Belgium had to dodge a dog after it somehow got onto the course, trailing its leash behind it.

The incident happened today at the Druivencross race in the town of Overijse, which lies just to the south east of the capital, Brussels.

The front pair, including Mathieu van der Poel in the rainbow bands of world champion, had already crossed the finish line to begin a new lap when the stray animal began chasing after them.

Bad dog #cyclocross #druivencross pic.twitter.com/LpKjf6WcOE

— (@FulSpeed) December 15, 2019

The following riders had to swerve to avoid the animal, with one even forced to come to a halt as marshals and race officials tried to catch the canine.

Victory went to van der Poel, who was back to winning days after yesterday losing a cyclo-cross race for the first time in more than a year as Toon Aerts won the Hotondcross.

Previous incidents involving dogs getting among the riders at bike races include one at the 2012 Tour de France in which a Pyrenean mountain dog got away from its owners and caused a crash in the peloton.

Video footage showed Philippe Gilbert berating the dog’s owners afterwards in no uncertain terms over their failure to control it.