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Cycling groups have taken a swing at motorists after a competitor in one of New Zealand's toughest races received serious head and spinal injuries in a pile-up.
Brett Burton, 43, of Auckland, was left crumpled on the road yesterday morning after a cycle pile-up, apparently caused when competitors in the Coromandel Peninsula K2 race were squeezed between an "impatient" ute and a milk tanker.
Cycling organisations said it was time for New Zealand to consider a law that held drivers responsible for collisions involving cyclists.
Kenny Chia, a competitor, saw the accident and described the ute driver as impatient.
"We could hear an angry horn coming from behind us as we were riding - then the white ute came flying past."
Chia said the cyclists, who were crossing Kuaotunu Hill north of Whitianga, then realised a milk tanker was coming in the opposite direction.
"The ute was going faster to pass the bikes before the tanker got too close. Near the front, a couple of guys touched wheels and then there was a 10-bike pile-up.
"The injured guy got pushed into the tanker's moving wheels and then bounced high into the air and did a 180-degree flip. He then hit the ground. He was probably about 2m in front of me, it wasn't a good sight.
"It looked like he was very, very badly injured," he said.
"It was just horrible to see someone hit like that. I really didn't feel like getting back on my bike."
Competitor Eddie Rosser, 31, of Auckland, was also present and called an ambulance.
"The ute carried on and cut in front of the bunch, which had a concertina effect on the riders. The ute... should not have been overtaking us on a blind corner."
Inspector Earle McIntosh said police had found and spoken to the driver of the white ute. Although there were issues concerning the ute, it had passed the cyclists by the time the crash happened.
"The cyclist made an evasive action to avoid other cyclists, not the ute," McIntosh said.
"The cyclists were using the road as if they owned it and came round a blind corner and met a milk tanker."
The Westpac rescue helicopter carried Burton to Auckland City Hospital. A paramedic who attended the accident said he had internal head injuries.
"It takes time [for head injuries] to manifest themselves and to know what the long-term effects will be."
There are no laws concerning cyclists and motorists. The Road Code says vehicles should ideally give cyclists 1.5m clearance and wait for clear space before passing on narrow roads.
Race organiser Rita Stephenson said some drivers thought cyclists were "a bunch of idiots".
"Cyclists have as much right to be out there as anyone else."
Motorists should spend time on a bike and "see how life is for a cyclist", she said.
"My heart just plummets. It's like sending my own kids out. I'm physically willing each one of them to come back. It's the nature of the event. When you have a number of people together, accidents do happen."
Cyclists were briefed on safety before the race and told to stay left, Stephenson said.
"I don't know what else you can do. You can't wrap them in cotton wool."
John Willmer, the cycling development manager for BikeNZ, said there was a need for stronger laws to protect cyclists. He said there were about 10 cycling fatalities a year and laws that cut speed limits and increased motorists' liability could reduce the number.
Rules for motorists passing cyclists needed strengthening beyond the 1.5m recommendation, he said.
"It would be good if the liability were to rest with the driver. That's something that would be a positive move. It would definitely protect the more vulnerable cyclists out there."
Shaughan Anderson, of Bike Northland, said: "In some countries there are laws that state that if a cyclist is hit by a vehicle it is the fault of the driver. Something like this could be a positive move in New Zealand."
Cyclist Jim Goodwin, from Waitakere in Auckland, came across the accident after it happened.
"It makes you sick when you see something like that. People don't realise how vulnerable you are on a bike. If you think about it too much you won't get back on the bike."
Burton was last night described as being in a stable condition.
Reporting team: Rebecca Lewis, Rebecca Milne, Caron Copek and Claire Rorke
