Magpie attacks cause chaos at Cycling World Championships Wollongong

The greatest 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 rivals are down beneath as the distinguished occasion is held in Australia for the primary time in additional than a decade – nevertheless it appears no person informed them concerning 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 is already been ‘chased’ by a chicken: ‘I’m afraid of it’

Magpie attacks are such an issue in Wollongong that this signal was erected at Lang Park, the place the end line for one of many races is positioned 

The magpie attacks have left a number of the sport’s greatest names badly shaken and searching over their shoulders each time they get on their bikes. 

‘A reasonably large chicken got here very shut [during a training ride] and it simply saved following me,’ Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel informed CyclingInformation. 

‘It was terrifying. But that is Australia, apparently. I hope it is the one time it occurs, however I’m afraid of it.’

Amazingly, organisers have put the end line for one of many races proper close to a magpie nesting space within the beachside space of Lang Park – the place there’s even a council signal saying, ‘Birds swooping! Dismount and stroll your bike by way of this space. Magpies are nesting on this space.’

Magpie attacks are comparatively frequent in Australia throughout spring

‘I’ve been swooped twice already since being right here,’ Australian rider Grace Brown, who received silver within the girls’s time trial on Sunday, informed Guardian Australia. 

‘It’s not simply the worldwide athletes which are fearful about it. I get fairly scared by magpies.’

Magpie attacks are comparatively frequent in Australia throughout spring, prompting locals to place plastic spikes on their helmets and take different steps to scale back the danger of being swooped. 

However, given the time and experience biking groups put into aerodynamic enhancements, it is unlikely riders at the occasion will change their headgear.

‘Some guys mentioned it’s a must to mount some antennae in your helmet to scare them away, however that is not so good for aerodynamics,’ joked Swiss rider Stefan Küng final week, after a teammate was swooped.

While most riders’ reactions are light-hearted to magpie attacks, they are often harmful – in 2019 a bike owner died in Wollongong after being swooped

While most riders’ reactions to the birds up to now have been comparatively light-hearted, magpie attacks on cyclists using at excessive speeds could be very harmful. 

In 2019 a bike owner in Wollongong died after being attacked by a magpie.

The 76-year-old crashed right into a fence put up as he tried to flee one of many swooping birds and died after being airlifted to hospital in a vital situation. 

Leading native vet Dr Paul Parland has informed a radio station that he believes magpie mating season mixed with racing cyclists is a recipe for ‘calamity’.

‘I do know that within the northern suburbs there have been a few problematic magpies over the previous couple of years which have resulted in some actually tough conditions,’ Parland mentioned.

‘Magpies could be fairly territorial and there is going to be lots happening of their specific areas.’

Leading Illawarra vet Dr Paul Parland has informed a radio station that he believes magpie mating season mixed with racing cyclists is a recipe for ‘calamity’

Parland has inspired folks to take care and journey in teams.   

‘Swooping birds have a tendency to focus on folks which are by themselves and likewise folks which are transferring in very quick methods.

‘Unfortunately I do not assume we will decelerate the cyclists of their race to take somewhat facet breather because the birds swoop by.’

Magpie Alert, a web site that screens and information magpie attacks in Australia, presently lists over 1,590 incidents up to now this 12 months, inflicting quite a few accidents. 

Magpies are inclined to swoop for about six weeks as their mate incubates eggs and whereas the chicks are very younger.