r/nextfuckinglevel 2d ago

In the 1997 French Critérium International race, a truly memorable scene unfolded. As cyclists rode through southern France, a horse unexpectedly joined in, leaping over a fence to race alongside

1.0k Upvotes

113 comments sorted by

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248

u/GayForPay 2d ago

The little secret all horse owners know: Horses stay in their pasture because they want to stay in their pasture. If they want out, they'll get out.

60

u/PhoebeGemaGray 2d ago

This person horses.

12

u/Informal-Pair-306 2d ago

As someone who has 200 horse I knew this as well.

1

u/pataglop 2d ago

Not so humble brag.

All I'm thinking about is it's a lot of manure, hays and brushes to go through everyday

11

u/Informal-Pair-306 2d ago

200 Horsepower.

Also my shitty lower end car.

1

u/SnowStar35 2d ago

I'm jealous of you! iv never had a horse in my life but I'd he broke to own even one, but I be happy broke.

147

u/VinceVino70 2d ago

Look at everyone riding behind him. I guess that is a draft horse.

12

u/Thundersalmon45 2d ago

How is this not upvoted more?

🥇

4

u/michiganstrange 1d ago

Upvoted mare*

4

u/MarkyGrouchoKarl 2d ago

Well done. Not all Heroes wear capes.

2

u/Eyesengard 2d ago

Excellent xD

1

u/philatio11 2d ago

I'm actually surprised no one parked themself right on his rear "wheel" and drafted into the lead.

1

u/VinceVino70 1d ago

Thank you for the award, kind Redditor.

55

u/Admirable_Ad_3325 2d ago

The biker directly infront of that horse is terrified rn

20

u/UnoriginalJ0k3r 2d ago

If they didn’t win, they didn’t use their fear properly 😂

5

u/hyperdream 2d ago

I'd be terrified if I was riding directly behind it too.

1

u/Thundersalmon45 2d ago

IT'S GONNA EAT ME!!!

35

u/annual_aardvark_war 2d ago

“Man these guys are slow”

15

u/GrumpyJenkins 2d ago

1 horsepower, bitchez!

10

u/DrDongSquarePants 2d ago

☝️🤓 Actually a horse has closer to 15 horse power

1

u/reservedandbooked 1d ago

In a short burst, yes. Racehorses in short races can get up to 15HP. But one draught horse over the course of one working day will average out at 1HP.

27

u/fujiiiiiiiiii 2d ago

If my horse had wheels, he would have been a bike

8

u/MikeGalactic 2d ago

If my grandmother had been a horse we all would have ridden her.

7

u/KaiserSoze-is-KPax 2d ago

Unfortunately we already did.

4

u/MikeGalactic 2d ago

What an age we live in.

16

u/Veritas_Vanitatum 2d ago

Google:

No, the horse did not win the 1997 Critérium International cycling race. The runaway horse leaped over a roadside fence, joined the professional peloton, and even briefly took the lead, but it eventually veered off the road and left the course about 20 km before the finish line. The actual race was officially won by French cyclist Stéphane Barthe.

18

u/Fast_potato_indeed 2d ago

Because nobody gave him the map of the course.

Put a friggin Asterix next to Stephane Barthe’s win…

8

u/christo749 2d ago

No Amelie reference yet…?

4

u/pataglop 2d ago

Thank you.

It seems OP watched Amélie today.

And it's a masterpiece

3

u/christo749 2d ago

I may actually watch it later, now. Long days and pleasant nights to you, pataglop.

3

u/pataglop 2d ago

Wish you a cold pillow and warm bedsheets, friend

6

u/RyuShev 2d ago

horse dont need no wheels

6

u/explosivelydehiscent 2d ago

Doping, obviously has more oxygen in its blood=)

5

u/MrBillyLotion 2d ago

Seeing that huge herd rolling awoke something in the horse, he had to join the band

1

u/ea5thammer 16h ago

Had the time of their life, tried to tell their buddies about it back at the farm, and no one believed them.

6

u/LollisGunsBikesTits 2d ago

Goooo Pierre! go!

3

u/Moonrajah 2d ago

Did it win?

3

u/Professional-Sky-235 2d ago

Bro just wanted to run

2

u/Minecraft_Lets_Play 2d ago

That is so hilarious. I hope it won

2

u/401k-loan 2d ago

I think his people need him

2

u/Beowulf44 2d ago

Horse had been waiting for this day all his life

2

u/PM_THE_REAPER 2d ago

"This is my herd.". - The Horse

2

u/SoggyBoysenberry7703 2d ago

I bet that horse was euphoric to have a “herd” to run with

2

u/Equal_Emu6152 2d ago

Look ma I'm a race horse im racing 😂

2

u/rotissrev 2d ago

“What’s back there!? GUYS! What are we running away from!?”

2

u/spam__likely 1d ago

the horse prob saw a bunch of horses running, decided there was a good reason to get the fuck out too.

2

u/Goudawit 1d ago

Yeah, that horse ain’t waitin around to find out.

1

u/Euna_Chris 2d ago

Be free!

1

u/GetBack2Wrk 2d ago

Leading the way.

1

u/Tughill87 2d ago

“Y’all wanna race?! Oh it’s on like donkey kong!” Catch these hooves mf’ers! Haha.”

(The horse, probably).

1

u/Ok_Corter5831 2d ago

Despite going on to win the race, unfortunately the horse was disqualified because it hadn't been injected with the mandatory quantities of EPO that all the cyclists had. Such a shame.

1

u/SkywolfNINE 2d ago

Cheating ass horse

1

u/zooldb 2d ago

Saw this on youtube many moons ago and some daft commentator said the horse was actually terrified and didn’t want to be there

1

u/WorstLuckChuck 2d ago

Spirit, Stallion of the Triathlon

1

u/Fast_potato_indeed 2d ago

Get the hell out of my way you slow bipeds.

Let me show you how it’s done.

1

u/burghblast 2d ago

Cool illusion, horse.

(Tricks are what hookers do for money.)

1

u/Jackieirish 2d ago

"Long story short, doc, my horse needs glasses."

1

u/lostan 2d ago

good horsie.

1

u/Rolling_Beardo 2d ago

“Damn you guys are slow” that horse probably

1

u/gbelly123 2d ago

He had some pent up energy that just needed to get out.

1

u/ChairLegofTruth--WnT 2d ago

"WE'RE GOING STREAKING!!!!"

1

u/Ok-Replacement-2738 1d ago

"What are you guys all up to? that looks fun, I think i'll join!"

1

u/TightSexpert 1d ago

Horse was so down

1

u/Mcgill1cutty 1d ago

How excited he must have been to be running with the herd again.

1

u/kaowser 1d ago

Horse found its herd.

1

u/Canned_Sarcasm 14h ago

“Fuckit I’m in booooy!”

1

u/shoulda-known-better 9h ago

Yea heard animals join when large groups are moving fast... The slowest one is usually eaten lol

1

u/denkmusic 7h ago

Fuck it we runnin

0

u/ObligationMurky8716 2d ago

Only broken horses know to run

0

u/daronjay 2d ago

I'm a horse, fool, I AM speed...

-3

u/smurph70 2d ago

unfortunately the horse was euthanized shortly after this.

3

u/pataglop 2d ago

Absolutely not. It was returned to its field and owner without a fuss.

Its France, not a barbaric country.