Luck in misfortune

Pro cyclist celebrates silver after crash with deer

Covered in blood, Emanuel Zangerle finished second in the Gravel ÖMS.(Bild: Cian Baumgartner)

Covered in blood, Emanuel Zangerle from the Felt-Felbermayr team in Wels crossed the finish line in second place at the Gravel State Championships in Birkfeld. However, a "Bambi" that shot the Tyrolean-born rider off on a descent at just under 50 km/h almost prevented him from winning a medal.

"Unfortunately, I didn't see the culprit, otherwise there would have been a goulash right away," said Emanuel Zangerle on Sunday, taking what had happened to the Wels cyclist the day before at the Gravel State Championships in Birkfeld in good humor. "Something like this has certainly never happened before," says Zangerle, referring to the fact that he was shot down by a deer on the last lap of the race in the Styrian town, when he was traveling at 50 km/h on a descent!

Open wound on the knee

"I didn't see it coming at all - and then I was already lying on the ground," said the 23-year-old, who suffered an open wound to his knee, but gritted his teeth and continued his ride without a functioning brake. Covered in blood, he crossed the finish line in second place behind team-mate Sebastian Schönberger. After first aid from the rescue team and the award ceremony, he was taken to hospital, where his wound had to be nursed.