Malaysia's Suhardi Hassan won the second leg of the Tour de Taiwan race yesterday, narrowly beating the first leg's champion Wong Kam Po of Hong Kong.
A number of cyclists were injured in accidents in the leg that started in Taitung and ended 173km later in Hualien.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CHINESE TAIPEI CYCLING ASSOCIATION
Malaysia's Tsen Seong Hoong (曾祥洪), Hans Siman of the Merida International Team and Japan's Kentaro Eshita were seriously injured in the accidents, which occurred mostly within the last 40km of the race.
The first crash occurred when three stray dogs popped onto the road while the race was passing through Fenglin City, resulting in a pile-up.
Only a small number of contestants suffered injuries in that crash, mostly minor cuts and scratches.
The second accident occurred within the last three kilometers of the stage where the road twists into a drastic left turn, then a right turn and then suddenly turns narrow.
A railroad crossing, potholes and gravel left behind from construction work also worsened the situation.
Japan's Eshita suffered serious injuries on his left elbow and leg when he fell at this point, raising fears that his cycling career may have come to an end. Malaysia's Tsen suffered a bone fracture in his right arm.
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