Hare triggers double crash at 24-hour cycling marathon in Upper Austria

Shortly afterward, the second collision occurred. "Ein nachkommender 32-jähriger Sportler konnte in weiterer Folge ebenfalls nicht mehr ausweichen," police described the further course of events. The 32-year-old from the district of Linz-Land rode over the man lying on the ground and was thrown to the ground. Thus, two crashes occurred within seconds following the first rider's attempt to swerve.

Two crashes within seconds

"Ein nachfolgender 32-Jähriger aus dem Bezirk Linz-Land konnte nicht mehr rechtzeitig bremsen, überfuhr den 30-Jährigen und kam ebenfalls zu Sturz," the police explained the sequence of events. Both racing cyclists were taken to hospital for treatment. The police did not provide further details on the extent of the injuries.

The L1223 state road runs through the municipal area of Pollham and was part of the race course during the 24-hour cycling marathon. In a cycling marathon of this kind, participants complete as high a number of laps as possible over an entire day, with the course usually being closed to other traffic or at least heavily secured. The incident occurred in the night to Sunday, a time when visibility conditions for the athletes are naturally limited.

24-hour cycling marathon under nighttime conditions

Wildlife crossings on country roads are a known problem in Upper Austria. Especially during the summer months, hares, deer, and foxes are increasingly on roads and paths at dusk and at night. At cycling marathons that take place around the clock, a single animal on the course can become a serious danger for participants, as speeds on racing bikes are high and braking distances in a group are short.

The police described the sequence of events in their press release in brief words: "Ein Hase auf der Fahrbahn hat bei einem 24-Stunden-Radmarathon in Pollham (Bezirk Grieskirchen) in der Nacht zum Sonntag für zwei Verletzte gesorgt." From the investigators' perspective, the cause of the double crash was clearly the sudden appearance of the animal in the middle of the course.

The "24h Radmarathon Grieskirchen" is an endurance event that pushes athletes to their physical limits over a period of 24 hours. Even though the two cyclists involved were taken to hospital for treatment, it was unclear at the time of the police report how severe the injuries of the two Upper Austrian participants actually were.

Police do not comment on severity of injuries

The police stated in their press release on Sunday that no further details on the injuries would be provided. It therefore remains unclear whether the two men, aged 30 and 32, from the districts of Eferding and Linz-Land, sustained minor injuries or more serious consequences. The police also did not initially comment on the continuation of the cycling marathon after the accident.

The incident highlights the risks associated with cycling marathons under nighttime conditions. While during the day animals on the course are often spotted early by course marshals or participants, the danger is significantly higher at night. Reflectors, good course lighting, and an anticipatory riding style are therefore particularly important at such events.

Wildlife crossings as a known risk

In Upper Austria, wildlife accidents involving cyclists occur repeatedly, although cases involving hares are rarely documented. Collisions with deer crossing the road in wooded sections are more common. In the current incident, however, it was specifically a hare that caused the crash, according to police.

After the double crash, the accident site was recorded by police, the injured were treated by emergency services and taken to a hospital. The authorities did not provide any information on the further course of the 24-hour cycling marathon – for example, whether the course had to be closed for a certain period of time. (APA, red, 7/12/2026)

The 30-year-old from the district of Eferding and the 32-year-old from the district of Linz-Land were part of a larger group of athletes who were preparing for the nighttime hours of the cycling marathon on Saturday evening. The darkness, the high speed, and the unexpected reaction of the animal led to a chain reaction that ended in a crash for the two affected individuals.

As police finally reported, the investigations into the exact course of the accident and the injuries of the two athletes had not yet been completed at the time of the press release. It is therefore possible that further details about the incident will become known in the coming days.