Dutch cyclist Annemiek Van Vleuten had a comfortable lead in the women's Olympic road race just six miles shy of the finish line when she suffered an awful crash on a steep, slippery descent. She went head-over-handlebars and appeared to land headfirst on the road's curb. 

After the race, the Dutch cycling federation announced the she had fractured her back in three places, and suffered a concussion from the crash. She will spend the night in intensive care.

The conditions on the road were bad during the women's race, just as they were the day prior for the men's road race, which also featured an important crash among the lead group on the final descent. 

But Van Vleuten's crash was worse, both because she was all alone and because the crash itself was far more serious.

It had started to rain in Rio during the final descent in Sunday's women's road race. Van Vleuten flew down the mountain and into a comfortable lead, but as she made a turn, her back wheel gave out. 

Van Vleuten started to brake going around one of several steep curves:

But the back wheel went up into the air:

She went over her handlebars and landed headfirst, and on her back:

Just awful:

A Dutch teammate went on to take gold, but it's heartbreaking to be that close to the finish line — and a possible gold medal — only to crash out in such tragic fashion. 

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American cyclist Kristin Armstrong made Olympic history in Rio on Wednesday after coming out of retirement to win the gold medal in the women's individual time trial and becoming the first rider ever to win three gold medals in the same discipline.

Armstrong completed the grueling 29.7-kilometer (18.4-mile) course in 44:26.42 with an average speed of 40.1 kph (24.9 mph).

She beat Russia's Olga Zabelinskaya by nearly five seconds on the rain-soaked course. Road-race gold medalist Anna van der Breggen took bronze.

Armstrong, who turns 43 years old on Thursday, completed a remarkable hat trick, having won gold in the time trial in Beijing and London.

She dedicated her victory to compatriot Mara Abbott, who came up just short of a medal in the women's road race on Sunday, having been caught by a chase group in the final kilometer.

After her first gold in Beijing, Armstrong retired from the sport to become a mother but returned for the London Games to successfully defend her title, NBC noted. Armstrong is the oldest female cycling medalist of all time.

"I don't have words to describe it. When you've already been two times at the pinnacle of the sport, why risk coming back for the gold medal?

"The best answer I can give is that I can," said Armstrong, who retired after each of her two previous Olympic success, only to come back in search of more glory, according to AFP.

"Today the stars aligned. I knew it was going to be a close race. My coach said to me, 'OK, you decide what colour medal you want to have.'

"I dug so deep. I thought about Mara, and I gave everything for her in the final 5km. To hear the national anthem on the podium, that's my favourite part of the Olympics," added Armstrong, who was greeted at the finish with a hug from her 5-year-old son, Lucas.

"Kristen Armstrong is a legend," USA Cycling President Derek Bouchard-Halltweeted. "3 golds in 3 Olympics. LEGEND!"

See photos from Armstrong's gold-winning ride below:

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Armstrong set off from the start riding lots of aero gear: She had an aero time-trial bike by Felt and a SRAM component group, Zipp wheels — including a rear disc wheel — an aero Team USA skinsuit and custom-painted helmet, and aero shoe covers.

FEELING HAWKISH: Armstrong wore a custom-painted aero helmet to slice through the wind.

She had aero handlebars, a custom aero skinsuit, and aero shoe covers to help her slip through the wind to the fastest time. Her time-trial bike by Felt also featured sleek aero shapes.

The Olympic athletes competing in the Rio Games are the elite of their sports. You see the best cyclists, runners, and swimmers in the world, battling to see who can take home the gold.

A ton of factors are part of getting there: Talent, technique, training, and physique all play a role.

And as far as physique goes, over the past few decades there's been a "bit of a size sort" in different sports, Dr. Michael Joyner, a physician and Mayo Clinic researcher who is one of the world's top experts on fitness and human performance, told Business Insider. Some athletes have started to focus on the sports they may be suited for based on their body type.

There are always exceptions, and in some cases, skill can be more important than a physical trait. But in general, Joyner says (and has written), elite competitors in each sport tend to share similar physiology.

Those ideal body types are well represented in Rio, and it's fascinating to see how much top athletes differ from one another.

Check out how four Rio contenders epitomize the build needed for their sports:

SEE ALSO: Michael Phelps has the perfect body for swimming, but that's not the only reason he's so good

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Swimming: Michael Phelps

Gymnastics: Simone Biles

Cycling: Chris Froome

The Rio Olympics have been filled with problematic examples of how the best materials aren't readily available at all times. Case in point, racing organizers fixed a hole in the track at the Olympic velodrome with some cardboard and duct tape.

After Dutch cyclist Joost van der Burg crashed during Thursday team sprint event, he left a sizable hole in the track. Pressed for time, organizers covered up the hole with duct tape and cardboard.

According to The Independent, tactics like these are common when a quick fix is required on wooden cycling tracks.

SEE ALSO: MICHAEL PHELPS: Here’s a look at the historic career of the greatest Olympian ever

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Cyclist Sir Bradley Wiggins became the first Brit to win eight Olympics medals last night, with Team GB claiming 3 golds and 3 silvers in Rio on Friday.

36-year-old Wiggins took part in the world record-breaking effort by Team GB in the men's cycling pursuit, beating Australia to gold.

Here's Wiggins and team — Ed Clancy, Owain Doull and Steven Burke — competing in the 4km race:

And here's the team setting a record time of 3 minutes 50.265 seconds in the 4km race against:

His eighth time on the podium, Wiggins was clearly having fun, sticking his tongue out as the British national anthem finished:

Afterward, Wiggins told the BBC: "When you have guys like that it makes your life easier."

It's Wiggins' fifth gold medal and his eighth Olympic medal overall. Wiggins won 1 gold at the London 2012 Olympics, 2 at the 2008 Beijing games, a gold, silver, and bronze at Athens in 2004, and a bronze in Sydney in 2000.

Team GB are now 3rd in the medals table, with 7 golds, 9 silvers, and 6 bronzes. USA have the biggest medal haul, with China in second.

Earlier in the day on Friday Team GB won 2 golds in rowing and silvers in dressage, trampolining, and swimming.

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Every four years the fastest track cyclists on the planet gather to race for medals around a velodrome in front of millions. And while the athletes who make it to the Olympics are massively powerful and finely skilled bike racers, they are also keen to gain every technological advantage by using the fastest bikes and gear — all of which can prove critical in a sport where races are won by millimeters and fractions of a second.

Here's a sample of some of the technology used by Olympic cyclists in Rio to cheat the air and pedal faster:

SEE ALSO: The coolest high and low tech at the Tour de France

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In races such as pursuit, riders opt for disc wheels in front and back. Using discs improves airflow around the bike and helps riders go faster at steady speeds by reducing drag. As the saying goes, aerodynamics is free speed.

Source: Vision

In addition to discs, the riders have sleek eyewear, helmets, skinsuits, handlebars, and frames, all of it wind tunnel tested.

Sprinters choose aero spoke wheels on the front and discs in the back. Aero spoke wheels are lighter than discs and handle better.

BMX made its Olympic debut in 2008, though the sport has largely remained on the periphery of the Games. 

That, of course, is not to say that the BMX riders are not themselves deserving Olympians, and a new video from NBC on Friday showed just how skilled these riders are on their bikes.

In the video, two Olympic BMX riders swiftly maneuver above a Rio official who is lying down in a star-fish position. The riders bounce their bikes between his limbs and atop his head, jumping and spinning and coming dangerous close to hitting his face (or worse), all while never actually touching him. 

Check it out for yourself: 

It's nerve-wracking just to watch, sort of the bike equivalent of that old knife game you definitely never tried with your friends when your parents weren't home. 

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There's arguably never been a better time to find high-tech accessories for your bike. But while most are designed to serve a single function, one company, COBI, is looking to help riders access a variety of smartphone features without ever using their hands. 

Think of it as a smart dashboard for your bike. The COBI allows bikers to mount their phone on their handlebars and connect it to a controller that they use by flicking their thumb. They can adjust their music, answer phone calls, track their fitness goals and more without ever leaving their handlebars.

The standard COBI package comes with a chargeable mount, a removable battery, a protective rain cover, and the thumb controller, which should be positioned near a bike's handlebar grips. Riders operate the system through the COBI app on their smartphone, which gives access to a variety of functions. A fitness tracker can pull data from popular fitness apps, a navigation system can give directions, and a weather tool can give the forecast. The app also has music controls and can speed dial contacts and pick up calls. 

The basic package costs $249. A more expensive one ($299) includes a front light that can be configured to turn on automatically when it gets dark and has a small sensor in it that can detect suspicious movements. That system will sound an alarm if it thinks a thief is tampering with your bike, and also gives riders proximity warnings, so can notify you if you're at risk of a collision. An even pricier package ($349) comes with a rear light that includes the same automatic lighting functionality, and a proximity sensor that can detect cars and objects behind your bike.

The COBI is a bit of a splurge considering alternatives like SmartHalo offer navigation and anti-theft features for around half the price. But COBI gives easy access to calls and texts, which most of its competitors do not. So if you're committed to listening to music and taking calls on your commute, the system might be worth the extra hundred dollars.

SEE ALSO: These are the accessories you’ll want with you when you’re biking

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NOW WATCH: This hand-cranked bicycle doubles your cycling workout

September 14 is national Cycle to Work Day, a day meant to inspire the estimated 17 million British workers who commute to work via private transport. 

According to the Cycle to Work Day website, the event has the intention to "encourage everyone to take to two wheels and cycle to work for at least one day."

"According to the census data, 741,000 people in the UK cycle to work regularly - this number keeps growing steadily, but with Cycle to Work Day's help we are aiming to make those numbers skyrocket this year and beyond!"

Not only does biking to work have the potential to improve your health, wealth and standard of living, but the combination of more cyclists and fewer cars on the road could give the entire country a much-needed boost. 

Here's why:

Mandi Woodruff contributed to an earlier version of this article. 

SEE ALSO: The British Olympian with the most golds ever stumbled into cycling as part of her mum's effort to lose weight

It will save you money

The UK is probably the most expensive place in the world to run a car. Due to the inflated costs of insurance, fuel, road tax and repairs, the average Briton forks out £3,453 a year to keep their 4 wheels on the road.

Meanwhile, the average bicycle costs less than £250, and has extremely low upkeep costs.

You will live longer

In a study carried out by Kings College London, comparing over 2,400 identical twins, the results demonstrated that those who cycled for just 45 minutes a week shaved nine biological years off their counterparts who didn't cycle.

"Our research found that those who exercise regularly are at significantly lower risk of cardiovascular disease, Type II diabetes, all types of cancer, high blood pressure and obesity,” says Dr Lynn Cherkas of King’s College London.

You won't miss morning traffic jams

According to the TomTom Traffic Index, Londoners spend an average 149 hours a year stuck in traffic; it is the 16th most congested city in the world.  Cycling could save you the time and aggravation.

Hövding is a bike helmet that opens up like an airbag during a collision or a fall. The airbag is designed to fit like a hood and it fills up with helium when needed.

Testing showed it reduced the chances of a head injury from 90% to 2% when travelling at speeds of 25mph.

Produced by Claudia Romeo. Special thanks to Lindsay Dodgson.

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The Polish town of Lidzbark Warminski has a unique new way of constructing bike lanes: It makes them glow in the dark.

The town's first luminous lane was completed September 28. It's made of a material that uses phosphors, the same synthetic material you find in glow-sticks and other glow-in-the-dark products. Phosphors are energized by certain kinds of radiation (including sunlight), and store that energy to be re-emitted as visual light over a longer period of time. They can radiate different colors, but according to CityLab, the town chose blue to match the lakes nearby. 

According to construction company Strabag, which installed the lane, the phosphors can hold a glow for 10 hours and recharge during the day.

The 330-foot-long lane is divided into two 6-foot-wide sections — one for cyclists and the other for pedestrians. It cost the town $31,000 to install. 

The road is loosely modeled after a glow-in-the-dark lane built in Eindhoven, Netherlands in 2014. That lane, called the "Van Gogh-Roosegaarde" cycle avenue, was inspired by the famous painter's most recognizable piece, "The Starry Night." Unlike that one, however, the new lane doesn't require any energy source besides the sun.

A spokesperson for  TPA Instytut Badan Technicznych, the company that developed the phosphor material, tells the Gazeta Olsztynska that it will monitor how the lane performs in different weather conditions and temperatures before it replicates it in any new installations.

Using glowing phosphors is certainly an innovative (if somewhat expensive) way to unobtrusively mark bike lanes so pedestrians and motorists remain aware of cyclists.

But the vibrant glowing lanes might do more than increase visibility and help cyclists avoid accidents; by making bikers feel safer, it could encourage more people to get out and ride.

Studies show that adding bike lanes improves public health at a fraction of the cost of direct health treatments, since the lanes get more people moving, and regular, light exercise can be linked to lower rates of heart disease. 

Check out the video below to see the lane as it appears during the day and night.

SEE ALSO: The 10 most innovative electric bikes in the world

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Autumn is now truly here. The air is getting colder and the days are getting much shorter. For cyclists, this means we are becoming less visible on the road, increasing the risk to our safety. 

Accidents involving cyclists happen all the time in London. To put that into better perspective, the BBC reported that London cyclists got into 23,000 accidents over five years.

One of the key contributing factors to accidents involving cyclists noted by the police is the failure to "look properly" on the part of the rider or the driver. 

Sure, most of us could do with being more careful, especially at junctions, but we can't control what other people do. We can, however, make ourselves more visible. Personally, every time I go out cycling in the dark, my aim is to make it impossible for motorists not to see me. Think Christmas tree on steroids here. 

As an avid cyclist, I handpicked some of the best products for keeping safe on the road. From helmets that will protect from head trauma if you get into an accident, to spray paint that will make your bike glow in the dark, these are the products I wouldn't be able to live without on my daily commute. 

Rear and headlights

Not only will head and rear lights increase your visibility, but you'll also be able to spot potholes and other obstacles more easily. For cyclists, they're an absolute must-have, as well as one of the cheapest investments you can make to avoid accidents. 

The Volador head light has three modes (high, medium, and strobe) and runs between 3-12 hours on a single charge. For increased visibility, you can also invest in this rear light, which has five modes and can last from 4-14 hours on a single charge.

Volador Bicycle USB Rechargeable LED Bike Headlight Lamp, £10.99

Lighting EVER USB Rechargeable Rear Taillight, £9.99

A high-visibility backpack cover

High-visibility jackets aren't the most fashionable options out there. Sure, your daily commute to work is not a fashion contest, but most of us don't really want to turn up to an important meeting with a very practical, but also very conspicuous fluorescent jacket. 

I opted for this Carribrite backpack cover with LED lights because it's much lighter, and also happens to be more visible than your average hi-vis jacket. At £15, it also won't break the bank.

Carribrite Hi-Vis Backpack Cover with LED Flashing Lights, £14.97

Reflective spray paint

As far as visibility goes, a glow in the dark bike is as good as it gets. Sadly, a glow in the dark bike cost a bloody fortune. So if you don't have £400 to splurge, you can spray your bike with a reflective spray for just under £20. 

Albedo 100 Reflective Spray Light Metallic, £17.49

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There are few things I enjoy more than a solid bike ride on a nice day. Since bringing my bike into the city, all of New York feels smaller; nooks of Brooklyn that were once frustrating to reach by train are now much more reasonably accessible, and I’ve saved an absurd amount of money that would’ve otherwise gone to Uber.

While there’s a lot of great biking accessories out there, over the past two weeks I’ve been riding with a Kadet Sling Messenger Bag from Chrome Industries, and I’m convinced it’s one of the best purchases any rider can make.

Chrome Industries prides itself in making high-quality, durable products that can hang with you no matter how hard you’re riding. By using military-grade materials, the brand is able to stand by its products like very few others, offering a lifetime guarantee on all of its bags. These bags can take a beating, and if something happens to yours, you can send it in or take it to a shop to get it repaired or replaced.

For everyday riding, the only things I’m packing in my bag are my bike chain, some water, and maybe a notebook, and the Kadet Sling Messenger Bag is perfect for my simple needs.

If you’re usually hauling a bit more than that while you ride (or skate, or walk, or whatever means of travel you prefer), I’ve also spent a few days with Chrome Industries' Citizen Messenger Bag that comes with a bit more room. The friend I borrowed it from is a designer and uses it to carry his computer, notebooks, and a whole slew of pens and other artsy objects. I rarely see him without it.

More than anything, I am obsessed with the look of my messenger bag; it makes me feel a bit more legitimate on the road. Full disclosure: I am not a great cyclist, and I am fully aware that I do not look great on a bike. I recently made the eight-mile ride from my apartment to CitiField, and by the end of it I looked like a wreck. I look on with envy when I see others riding with confidence, conquering inclines with ease and grace. And while I know that wearing a bag does nothing to improve my ability or technique, I feel more secure when I have my Chrome bag on — it makes me look like a real cyclist.

If you ride your bike with any sort of regularity, a bag from Chrome Industries is a solid investment. It’s a great bag in terms of both function and style, and with its lifetime warranty, it will hopefully be the last messenger bag you ever have to buy.

Kadet Night Sling Messenger Bag, $90, available at Chrome Industries.
Citizen Messenger Bag, $140, available at Chrome Industries.

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Finally, a backpack that ticks all the boxes for an active outdoors lifestyle is on sale.

The creators of the Code 10 say that it is completely waterproof, theft proof, work ready and tech ready.

The bag has been fully funded on Kickstarter and is on sale now for £99.

Produced by Leon Siciliano

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Sometimes the best revenge is served via vomiting.

A new bike lock called the SkunkLock, which debuted on Indiegogo on October 21, promises it'll do just that. The lock looks like a normal bike U-lock. But when it's tampered with, the lock releases a noxious mist that'll likely make the would-be bike thief back away or throw up.

The gas is made up of a mixture of chemicals including capsaicin, an irritant found in chili peppers that's also used in pepper sprays. 

"The chemicals are so disgusting they induce vomit in the majority of cases, and elicit an instinctive response to run away immediately," SkunkLock's description reads.

The chemicals are stored in a pressurized, hollow interior compartment, so they don't get released unless the lock is actually penetrated. To break open that chamber, the thief would have to be using a specialized cutter, like an angle grinder or heavy-duty bolt cutter — two tools frequently employed to steal bikes. Using those tools can already make a scene if people are around, but the makers of SkunkLock hope that the noxious chemicals will add yet another deterrent to bike theft.

The SkunkLock has already exceeded its fundraising goal. Once it's manufactured, the device will join the ranks of several other interesting bike theft prevention gadgets. Already on the market are quiet, stealthy GPS trackers that let you know where your stolen bike is headed. There are also loud bike alarms and even exploding bike alarms. But the SkunkLock is the first one that'll likely leave your would-be thief in physical discomfort.   

If you want in on the schadenfreude, the SkunkLock is currently being sold in limited quantities for $109 on Indiegogo.

SEE ALSO: 13 amazing bike accessories that will make your ride smarter and safer

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NOW WATCH: This bike helmet inflates around your head like an airbag in a crash

A man in California says he has created a bicycle that is healthier, safer, and faster than a normal bike - because you ride it on your stomach.

John Aldridge, the creator of the Bird of Prey Bicycle, claims his bike is the "fastest racing bicycle in the world."

The product can be bought online for around £4000.

Produced by Leon Siciliano

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Cycling to work is a great way to stay fit, save money, and wake yourself up but it has its downsides too – it's pretty dangerous if you don't take care.

I recorded my journey from home (in South West London) to work (in East London) for a month and had a fair few near-misses with cyclists and cars jumping red lights, dangerous drivers, and pedestrians walking into the road.

There are around 610,000 cycling journeys each day in London, according to Transport for London.

They reported that 2,092 people were killed or seriously injured on London's roads in 2015.

It would be easy to place the blame for these statistics completely on the drivers but it isn't that simple, erratic cyclists and pedestrians can be a problem too – although they are less likely to kill or severely injure you than a vehicle is.

Watch the video to see some of the near-misses I experienced.

Produced by Leon Siciliano

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