Shani Bloch survived a high-speed crash just yards from the finish line to secure second place at the Scottish Road Race Championship.

In a strong break-away group of eight — including Israel’s star professional rider — which had formed early on in the short 42-miles race, Bloch and Eileen Roe opened up a gap a third of the way through the final lap in West Calder.

Coming into the final turn at the bottom of a fast descent Roe began to bank in from the wider line and their shoulders came together, with Bloch crashing down on her right-hand side. With her opponent sliding across the junction, Roe was forced to go straight on, stopping just as her wheel hit the kerb on the far side. Unable to get out of her pedals, somehow she managed to get going again and headed for the finish, all the time looking over her shoulder showing obvious concern for the other rider.

There were no exuberant celebrations but Bloch was back on her bike and heading for the finish to take a well-deserved second and the two riders were soon sitting on the side of the road while Bloch’s injuries were assessed by the medical team.

Bloch put her tumble down to “inexperience” and said: “The adrenaline was pumping as it all happened so fast."