Dutch cyclo-cross star Lars van der Haar shocked onlookers at the Gullegem Superprestige on Saturday when he popped his shoulder back into its socket after a crash
Cyclo-cross star Lars van der Haar popped his own shoulder back into its socket after crashing at the Gullegem Superprestige.
The Dutchman was competing in a form of bike racing that features bikes not too dissimilar to those on the road ripping through mud, sand and occasionally cobbles.
Images captured by spectators at the event showed Van der Haar, a two-time European champion, using his saddle as leverage to force his shoulder back in after he dislocated during a crash on the muddy course.
“Might be skinny, but cyclists are tough,” one fan responded. While a second said: “CX dude casually popping his shoulder back and still finished four. Soccer player…but the wind is blowing!”
“Now that’s a hard man – incredible,” a third posted. And another added: “We live watching sport… part of it is because we can relate to… but we need to remember this: at the elite level, these people aren’t ‘normal’!”
Amazingly, it’s not the first time Van der Haar has used this trick on his shoulder. Last season, when racing at the World Cup in Niel, Van der Haar, then the Dutch champion, came off on Niel’s infamous off-camber section.
The Dutchman simply, picked up his bike leaned over the saddle and popped his shoulder back in – finishing the race.
Van der Haar was able to finish in tenth place in Gullegem, having been racing inside the top five when he dislocated his shoulder in a crash. Tour de France superstar Wout van Aert, who was back in the cross fields, held off the challenge of Eli Iserbyt to take the win.
Van Aert would then double on Sunday, romping home in a mud-soaked Dendermode course in the World Cup.