Photographer seriously injured

A press photographer was run down by the winning cyclist shortly after the finish line in Saturday's Arno Wallaard Memorial Saturday in Meerkerk, Netherlands. Freelance photographer Hans Roest was standing in the road, as allowed by race organisers, to get pictures as the winner crossed the finish line. Cornelius van Ooijen of the Asito Cycling Team won the race after a "tumultuous sprint," according to the "Algemeen Dagblad", and plowed directly into Roest.

The photographer slid across the street and hit his head on the curb. He had to be reanimated at the site and was taken to hospital in critical condition, which was later upgraded to serious.

Race organiser Jan van der Meijden said, "Nobody is at fault here. The photographers stood behind the line. Everything was legally in order."

Van Ooijen was also taken to a hospital to be checked out, and was discovered to have a bruised scapula. The 22 year-old could not really enjoy his win in the race, though. "I am mainly happy that the photographer has survived," he said.

The Arno Wallaard Memorial is dedicated to the former Skil-Shimano rider who died in February 2006 at the age of 26.(SW)

(Additional reporting and research provided by Susan Westemeyer)