Crashes and a small audience at the Munich Six Days

Bayern Munich's football player Luca Toni (2nd right) fired the starting pistol to get the 46th Munich Six Days underway.

Bayern Munich's football player Luca Toni (2nd right) fired the starting pistol to get the 46th Munich Six Days underway. (Image credit: AFP)

The Munich Six Days got off to a bad start on Thursday night, with smaller than expected crowds in the stands to see a crash-marred event. Three riders, including defending champion Robert Bartko, crashed badly enough to leave the race, with one later having to withdraw, while another rider had to withdraw due to illness.