Huge crash rocks Brooklyn Red Hook Criterium bike race

Here’s the worst possible way to start a race.

The women’s final of the Red Hook Criterium race in Brooklyn got off to a rocky start when a number of competitors crashed and caused a major pileup.

The race featured 60 riders on fixed gear bikes without brakes who seemed to find it difficult to make their way around the tight technical layout.

Reports after the race suggest 15 cyclists were impacted by the crash but only one racer dropped out after the first lap.

Major crashes aren’t uncommon for a Red Hook Crit courses.

Last year, a lead motorcycle stalled during the men’s final of the Brooklyn Red Hook Criterium and sent at least seven cyclists to the hospital.

Despite the mayhem, American cyclist Colleen Gulick won the event in just under 32 minutes and 22 seconds.