sport news Magpie attacks cause chaos at Cycling World Championships Wollongong trends now
Magpie attacks cause chaos for the best riders on the planet at Cycling World Championships as expert warns holding races during swooping season is a 'recipe for calamity' Magpies are attacking cyclists at Cycling World Championships in Wollongong Organisers have placed a finish line right near a magpie nesting area An Illawarra vet says racing during magpie mating season is recipe for 'calamity'
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The best cyclists on the planet have been terrorised by swooping magpies as they compete at the Cycling World Championships in Wollongong on the NSW south coast.
More than 1000 competitors are down under as the prestigious event is held in Australia for the first time in more than a decade - but it seems nobody told them about the hazard the birds pose from August to October as they defend their chicks and nests.
Terrified Belgian rider Remco Evenepoel (pictured competing in a time trial at Wollongong) says he's already been 'chased' by a bird: 'I am afraid of it'
Magpie attacks are such a problem in Wollongong that this sign was erected at Lang Park, where the finish line for one of the races is located
The magpie attacks have left some of the sport's biggest names badly shaken and looking over their shoulders every time they get on their bikes.
'A fairly large bird came very close [during a training ride] and it just kept following me,' Belgium's Remco Evenepoel told CyclingNews.
'It was terrifying. But that's Australia, apparently. I hope it's the only time it happens, but I am afraid of it.'
Amazingly, organisers have put the finish line for one of the races right near a magpie nesting area in the beachside area of Lang Park - where there's even a council sign saying, 'Birds swooping! Dismount and walk your bike through this area. Magpies are nesting in this area.'
