Bicycle racer narrowly evades crash caused by goat in Giro d'Italia: "Albania offers thrilling races - beware of roaming goats!"
Goat Gone Wild: The Mountain Goat Chaos in the Giro d'Italia
These days, 'goat' is a popular term in professional cycling, but it's not for the farms - it's an acronym for the Greatest of all Time, often used in reference to Tadej Pogačar. However, in stage three of the Giro d'Italia, won by Mads Pedersen, the real, furry goats stole the show.
As the peloton descended quickly down a climb in Albania, mid-race, a feisty mountain goat broke from its herd and sprinted across the road. Dion Smith, riding for Intermarché-Wanty, found himself in the path of this determined goat, narrowly missing a collision that would have likely sent him tumbling off his bike.
"I saw it a good 10 seconds away," Smith recollected later. "The policeman was trying to keep them all in line, but then one or two started crossing. I didn't know where it was heading, but luckily I managed to stay upright," he added, grateful for his swift reflexes.
Despite the close call, Smith and the intrusive goat both emerged unscathed, with the goat reaching the rocky cliffs on the other side of the road.
Concerns about wildlife interference during the race were not unfounded, as stray dogs disrupted training rides prior to stage one. Smith, however, was more surprised by the abundance of goats than a wild dog. "I guess I expected more of a wild dog, but there are apparently more goats down here!" he chuckled.
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Did Smith make contact with the goat? "I think so, but I'll have to watch the replay because it happened so fast. I was more focused on staying on my bike," he said, uncertain about the actual impact on the animal.
Albania, overall, proved to be a picturesque backdrop for the race. Despite the occasional mountain goat interruption, the New Zealand cyclist had a positive experience and encouraged future participants to be mindful of the local wildlife.
In the midst of the race, a mountain goat strayed onto the road during the descent, causing Dion Smith to have a near-collision with the unexpected intruder. Smith, amused by the abundance of goats in Albania, found it surprising, having expected a wild dog instead.
