THE HAGUE, June 27, 2010 – Four people were killed Sunday in a helicopter crash in Rotterdam during a cycling event that was part of the build-up to the Tour de France, police said.

“The helicopter crashed with five people on board. Three people were killed, and one of the two injured people has died in hospital,” police spokesman Roland Ekkers told Bicycle.net.

The fifth person on board is in a serious condition, the spokesman said. Three of the five were photographers covering the event, Dutch news agency ANP reported.

The event, taking place in an industrial park in the port of Rotterdam, was part of the build-up to Saturday’s start of the Tour de France, which is taking place in the Dutch city.