Overview
- Race officials and riders discovered small metal shards on multiple stretches of the Kirchwerder bike course during the Ironman on Sunday, June 7, causing widespread tyre damage.
- Police say the Landeskriminalamt’s Staatsschutz has taken over the probe and is treating the incident as suspected attempted dangerous bodily harm and multiple counts of property damage.
- Authorities reported dozens of stopped amateur competitors with media estimates up to about 150 affected riders and confirmed the professional field was not hit.
- At least one 29-year-old participant crashed in the affected section, suffered a fracture and was taken to hospital while investigators examine whether tyre damage caused the fall.
- Police have identified affected roads including Zollenspieker Hauptdeich, Kirchenheerweg, Kirchwerder Hausdeich, Norderquerweg, Kirchwerder Landweg and Heinrich-Osterrath-Straße and ask witnesses to call 040 4286-56789.