Giro d'Italia drama as goat breaks free and hurls itself at oncoming rider Dion Smith on Stage 3 in Albania

React to this story

There was a scare at the Giro d’Italia as a goat broke free from a roadside herd and leapt over Dion Smith’s bike while the peloton tore past. A crash seemed certain - but somehow both rider and goat stayed upright. Even the TNT Sports commentators couldn’t believe what they’d seen. Sunday's stage was the final outing in Albania, with the race heading to Italian soil on Monday's first rest day.

Smith dodges disaster as goat jumps at him during Giro d'Italia stage

Video credit: TNT Sports

There was a heart-in-mouth moment at the Giro d’Italia in Albania on Sunday when a goat darted across the road and jumped up at a rider.

Television footage showed a tribe of goats behind a roadside barrier, but one broke free - choosing the worst possible moment to cross just as the peloton thundered past.

Dion Smith (Intermarche-Wanty) was among a small group of riders off the back of the bunch when the goat suddenly bounded into the road and appeared to head straight for him.

Giro d'Italia

Yates lifts lid on Giro triumph – and reveals he woke up thinking it was all lost

26/12/2025 at 19:40

A nasty collision looked inevitable when the animal took flight, but somehow it cleared the New Zealander's back wheel.

"How’s he kept that up? Both of them have kept it upright. Good effort," said Rob Hatch on TNT Sports commentary.

"Dion Smith was good, but that was some evasive action from the goat there."

Robbie McEwen added: "He’s probably experienced with this sort of thing, coming from a country where there are more sheep than people.

"He’s now gone very Euro and taken on a goat."

'Everyone else went left and I chose right'

'First time for the goat!' – Dion Smith relives near-miss with rogue animal

Video credit: TNT Sports

Smith recounted his scary near-miss after the race.

"I didn't have too much time to think," he said.

"I could see it 10 seconds before, the policeman trying to keep them all in, and then one or two started coming across. Luckily I stayed up."

He added: "I didn't know which way I was going to go. Everyone else went left and I chose right. In the end, it was fine."

The 108th edition of the Giro kicked off in Albania for the first time on Friday, with Stage 3 taking a trip to the mountains around Vlore.

Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) won Stage 3 to retake the leader's pink jersey from Primoz Roglic (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe).

- - -

Stream the cycling season, including the Giro d'Italia, live on TNT Sports and discovery+

Giro d'Italia

Yates 'would love to defend' Giro title as discussions continue over Vingegaard debut

01/12/2025 at 21:03

Giro d'Italia

Haunted no more: How Yates laid his Giro ghosts to rest in stunning style

02/06/2025 at 15:43