Galloping pony joins French cycling race

Aug. 3 (UPI) -- Participants in a cycling race in France were joined with an unexpected contestant when a pony began running alongside the cyclists.

Cycling Hub shared video of the brown and white pony frantically galloping alongside competitors in the Tour de Pologne on Thursday.

The speedy pony, which appeared to be wearing a harness, tried its best to keep up with the cyclists as they rode past a line of spectators on a local road.

Onlookers cheered the pony on, as it turned a corner and stumbled briefly before regaining its footing and continuing to run with the cyclists.

The pony eventually dropped out of the race after one cyclist appeared to guide it toward a side street.

It wasn't immediately clear where the pony came from, but some joked it was a substitute for Team Sky's Chris Froome, who was photographed running near the pony.