Moment cycling race comes close to disaster as CAR turns on to course and is forced to reverse causing huge crash

A CYCLING race “came close to disaster” in crazy scenes as riders were sent crashing when a car headed towards them.

The driver was forced to REVERSE as bikers in France’s prestigious Etoile de Besseges event zoomed straight at the Mini Cooper.

Cyclists went tumbling as the driver of the Mini Cooper was forced to go backwards after turning onto a road crammed with competitors

The car came within inches of hitting the speeding bikers

The driver reversed for dozens of yards in the shock incident

The bizarre saga unfolded on a countryside road crammed with the speeding peleton – the leading pack – in the opening stage of the race.

TV cameras captured the incredible consequences of a car turning in the direction of the bikers, who were crowded across all the lane.

The Mini eventually managed to reverse into a side-road – avoiding some cyclists by just inches while more fortunate riders streaked past.

But as that drastic driving manoeuvre was made, about 10 competitors careered off their bikes – as the car appeared to cause a bottle-neck.

One fan called the scene “incomprehensible”.

And a viewer who posted a clip of the pile-up wrote: “This was close to a disaster. Big crash in Etoile de Besseges after a car entered on the route.”

A Eurosport commentator watching the unnerving incident was exasperated someone had driven onto the course.

They said: “Why, why, why?

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“There’s always someone who thinks the roads are owned by just them.

“Luckily that crash didn’t look too scary, and not too damaging.

“But imagine of you are travelling at 40, 45 kilometres per hour and all of a sudden a car comes your way.”

Other observers were also puzzled, but not everyone reckoned it was the driver’s fault.

One viewer wrote: “Not enough people to cover all the secondary roads I guess…and bad timing.”

A second fan pondered: “Bad timing or bad race organization?”

And a third insisted: “The sideroad is not blocked. No blame to the car driver.”

Meanwhile, a fourth fan took a wider view.

They said: “I just keep praying for the safety of these athletes, my one and only wish, stay safe.”