Aussie cyclist taken out by spectator

Australian cyclist Lauren Rowney was sent flying over the handlebars after a spectator grabbed her bike as she sprinted toward the finish line during a European road race.

The 26-year-old was just metres from the finish line of the 138.2km Molecaten Drentse 8 event, in The Netherlands, when the ugly incident occurred.

Rowney was flying down the inside of race leader Giorgia Bronzini close to a barrier fence when a spectator reached out and grabbed her handlebars, sending her cartwheeling in the air and onto the road.

She landed on her back, laying prone for over a minute before eventually crawling over the line, where she was helped away by medical officers.

Rowney, who suffered a broken collarbone, finished seventh.

A shocked Bronzini said she was unaware what happened until she was shown footage of the crash.

"I thought at first that maybe it was my fault," the Italian said.

"But I've already seen the footage and it looks like a spectator grips her wheel. Very strange."

Italian rider Valentina Scandolara, who finished runner-up, was shocked to see a spectator caused the spill.

"I saw Loren crashing," Scandolra said. "I have seen the video now. I didn't realise that a spectator had hit her until I saw it.

"I was happy for the sprint I had but more sad for the terrible crash that Loren had."

Rowney later took to Twitter to thank fans for their support, tweeting: "Thank you 4 the well wishes everybody.

"I'll try and get back to you all...it's hard with 1 arm! on my way to Hamburg for treatment."