Cyclist OK despite toppling off massive cliff
A terrifying crash from Belgium's Laurens De Plus has overshadowed the final one-day classic of the cycling season, the Giro di Lombardia.
On the descent towards Lake Como some 40km from home, Quick Step rider De Plus crashed after taking a corner badly.
The Belgian couldn't stop himself from tumbling over the top of a barrier and falling into the void almost 10-metres below.
Fortunately, he managed to land on a grassy part of the ground below and somehow walked away relatively unhurt.
The Belgian rider had been alone in pursuit of race leader Mikael Cherel of France when he came a cropper.
"We've spoken to Laurens De Plus, who luckily has no serious injury," his team confirmed adding that the rider had been taken to hospital.
The 22-year-old was competing for the second time in the race after also being forced to quit last year.
taly's Vincenzo Nibali won the event for the second time on Saturday, finishing half a minute ahead of France's Julian Alaphilippe in a drama-filled 247km ride between Bergamo and Como in northern Italy.
Gianni Moscon of Italy crossed in third at 38 seconds.
"This is really the cherry on the cake for me to close the season," said Nibali.
"Everyone was watching me. When I tried to pull ahead, I was picked up every time. I understood that I had to find something else to win," explained Nibali.
The Shark, as the Sicilian is known, added to the title he won in the fifth of the year's five prestigious 'Monument' races two years ago.
Crossing the line under the sun on the banks of the popular Italian lakes the 32-year-old drew a '50' with his fingers for the total number of his victories.
Nibali has been in good form this season, finishing second to Chris Froome at last month's Vuelta a Espana having come third in May's Giro d'Italia -- two of the three Grand Tours.
"I was hoping because after so many podiums I really wanted a win," said the Sicilian.
"These roads I know, I train here often. I knew it was tough but today my team was perfect despite (Franco) Pellizzotti and (Enrico) Gasparotto not being the best."