The Tour Down Under already has a reputation for brutal heat, fast descents, and unpredictable conditions.
And this year, according to People, it added another very Australian hazard to the list: full-grown kangaroos launching themselves into the middle of the race like they had money on chaos.
During the final stage in Adelaide on Sunday, January 25, roughly 45 miles into the 105-mile route, two large kangaroos bounded onto the road and plowed straight into the peloton.
Multiple riders were knocked off their bikes at speed, instantly derailing the race and sending bodies and carbon fiber skidding across the asphalt.
Among those taken down was eventual winner Jay Vine, who somehow managed to hit the ground, change bikes—twice—and still claw his way back to the front.
Others weren’t so fortunate. Menno Huising, Lucas Stevenson, Mikkel Bjerg, Juan Molano, and Alberto Dainese were all forced to abandon after the collision.
While no cyclists suffered serious injuries, one of the kangaroos was badly hurt and later euthanized.
Live broadcast footage caught the marsupials hopping into the road with zero hesitation. “Oh, it’s a kangaroo! Never seen that before!” commentator Phil Liggett exclaimed, sounding equal parts shocked and delighted.
Fellow commentator Matthew Keenan followed up with the sobering reality: racing in Australia means wildlife doesn’t care about start times, barricades, or TV schedules. “You can’t tell them, ‘Don’t go about your day, there’s a bike race on,’” he said.
Vine later explained that for locals, the danger wasn’t exactly surprising. “Everyone asks me what’s the most dangerous thing in Australia, and I always tell them it’s kangaroos,” he said. “They wait, and they hide in the bushes until you can’t stop, and they jump out in front of you. Point proven today.”
He described the moment bluntly: the peloton was moving at roughly 50 kilometers per hour when two kangaroos blasted through the group. One stopped, darted left and right, and Vine ended up colliding with its backside. “It’s one of those things, bad luck,” he added. “Luckily, I’m okay and glad I’m able to hold onto the jersey.”
According to Australian Geographic, kangaroo attacks are rare, but they do happen—especially when animals feel cornered or startled. Large males can rear back and deliver powerful kicks with sharp claws, and cyclists and joggers are common targets simply because they move fast and quietly.
In this case, no warning signs, no territorial posturing—just two kangaroos doing what kangaroos do best: showing up uninvited and choosing violence.