VIDEO: American Taylor Knibb crashes three times during Olympic time-trial and even her mechanic fell in rainy conditions

The Olympic Games time-trial is proving to, in it's early hours, to be a disaster. Rainy conditions are creating chaos in the women's field with several riders crashing. Amongst them is American rider Taylor Knibb who fell several times and even her mechanic fell whilst trying to hand her a bike on the slippery roads.

Cecillie Uttrup Ludwig crashed early in the day and in the same corner Knibb went down only a few minutes later. It proved to be a disaster afternoon for her, falling two more times. She needed bike changes on more than one occasion despite having only one spare bike, and on the third occasion even her mechanic fell whilst trying to hand it to her.

The very wet conditions are proving to be hell for the riders in the heart of summer, and it launches a very meaningful warning for the men's event this afternoon where speeds should be even higher. At the start ramp, a few riders have also found difficulties starting their effort, losing balance on the ramp itself.