Australian cyclist Loren Rowney has been taken out by a spectator's hand while sprinting towards the finish line during the European women's cycling tour.

Rowney was looking to get on the inside of race leader, Giorgia Bronzini, as they made their way down the straight of the Molecaten Drentse 8 in The Netherlands.

The South-African born cyclist was only metres from the finish line when a spectator's hand appeared to deliberately grab her handlebars, sending Rowney flying head first over the front of her bike.

The 26-year-old managed to crawl over the finish line in seventh place before lying prone on the course for almost a minute.