Dutch Cyclist Annemiek van Vleuten Hurt in Horrifying Crash on Dangerous Rio Cycling Course

Dutch cyclist Annemiek van Vleuten was injured in a horrifying crash on live TV on the dangerous Rio road course – just as she poised to take the gold in the women's road race.

With just 6 miles to go in the 87-mile course, the 33-year-old cyclist lost control on slippery pavement during one of the treacherous downhill turns on Sunday afternoon.

Chase cameras captured the moment as she flipped off her bicycle and smashed into the shoulder on the side of the road. She did not appear to be moving.

A second chase camera that passed by 10 seconds later showed that van Vleuten was just not moving.

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The Dutch cycling federation later confirmed on Twitter that van Vleuten was OK.

The crash allowed American Mara Abbott to zoom ahead.

Abbott, however, was caught by three chasing riders in the final stretch and took fourth place.

Van Vleuten's teammate Anna van der Breggen took gold for the Netherlands.

"I was pretty shocked, I think she crashed hard. I realized I was at the front of the team, so I had to chase. I did it for Annemiek. To see her like that, it's a big shock," van der Breggen told reporters after the win.

During the men's road race on Saturday, the treacherous course claimed several riders, including Italian cyclist Vincenzo Nibali, who broke his collar bone when he, too was in position to win the race. Nibali's crash came at a similar point in the course, which featured a steep downhill descent near the end of the course.

BBC broadcaster and former British cyclist Chris Boardman criticized the Rio course and said it was not safe following van Vlueten's crash.

To learn more about all Olympic hopefuls, visit teamusa.org. The Rio Olympics begin Friday on NBC.