Mitch Docker's unfortunate meeting with a fence

Australian cyclist Mitch Docker has had an unfortunate meeting with a barbed wire fence in the Tour of Flanders.

Docker, who is a part of Team EF Education First-Drapac, was hanging with the pack when his front wheel appeared to get tied up with one of his competitors, causing him to come off his bicycle.

Onlooking fans tried in vain to help extricate Docker from the barbed wire, but he appeared to be tangled and in severe pain.

The 31-year-old from Melbourne was unable to finish the race which was won by Dutch rider Niki Terpstra who rode a time of 6:21:25.

Australia’s effort was led by Bahrain Merida’s Heinrich Haussler who finished 25^th overall, 1:24 behind Terpstra.

Mitchelton-Scott’s Luke Durbridge finished 64^th overall, 8:18 behind the winner.

Durbridge was followed by Dion Smith, Thomas Scully, Matthew Hayman and Alexander Edmondson as the other Australian riders who were able to complete the race.