The cycling world has been left shocked by the gruesome injuries revealed by star riders after a freak hail storm in the middle of the Criterium du Dauphine in France.
Many riders were left with painful welts spotted across their shoulder and back after a flash hailstorm fell on the peloton after the stage 2 ride from Vienne to Col de Port in the iconic Pyrenees mountain range.
![Tim Declercq after being struck by hail. Photo / Tim Declercq Instagram](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/7ZY3NRGCHT6GM7TXBQZVYQUOJ4.png?auth=4f876db105fd1e208badba284a66e215bfb03f87cdcf3cde6a9e4138dd18061f&width=16&height=18&quality=70&smart=true)
The stage quickly became a nightmare for riders when heavy rain and hail began to fall in the middle of the climb β but it only got truly scary for the riders and support staff after winner Primoz Roglic had crossed the line and clinched the overall lead of the race.
With some sections of the field still crossing the line, the storm whipped into a devastating hail upsurge which broke apart temporary event structures and sent panicked riders scurrying for cover.