Cofidis' Marco Mathis apologized to the driver of an oncoming car last week after he collided with it on a downhill during training.

In a video posted by training partner Rick Zabel (Israel Startup Nation), Mathis comes within inches of an oncoming car as he passes a blind corner on a downhill. As the oncoming car approaches at the apex of the right-hand curve, Mathis adjusts his line to avoid contact; the 25-year-old German driver makes sure Zabel follows behind.

Zabel posted this video on Instagram on January 4 with a short message about enjoying downhill training with friends. Zabel added, "Don't try this at home."

In an apology from Mathis posted on the Cofidis team's Twitter account on Tuesday, but not posted to himself, the rider described the pass situation.

"On the right corner, I used a hole in the road [omitted]," Mathis wrote. 'This moment looked much closer. But I want to say sorry to the driver of the car that the witch [omitted] might have been frightened. And I would suggest that you don't take too many risks in your training. Enjoy your next ride."

Neither rider identified where they were training at the time of the incident.

This safety message was promoted and presumably requested by the team and is in line with the marketing goals of the sponsor, Cofidis Credit Solutions.

Mathis, the 2016 U23 time trial world champion, ran with German compatriot Zabel in Katusha-Alpecin for two seasons before moving to Cofidis last season. Zabel took over Katusha's World Tour license this year and moved from Katusha to Startup Nation in Israel.

Before signing with Katusha in 2017, Mathis ran for four seasons with the German Continental team Radnet Rose.