Commonwealth Games: Horrifying crash injures cyclists and spectators
- British Olympic champion Matt Walls was treated in the stands for almost 40 minutes after both he and his bike were flung off the track
- He was taken to hospital along with another rider, while at least two spectators needed medical attention for their injuries
Two riders have been hospitalised and multiple spectators required medical treatment after a crash catapulted an Olympic gold medallist into the crowd during a Commonwealth Games qualifying race in London on Sunday.
England’s Matt Walls was treated in the stands for almost 40 minutes after both he and his bike were flung off the track as spectators looked on in shock.
The 24-year-old, who won the Omnium gold and Madison silver for Team GB at the Tokyo Olympics last year, and Isle of Man rider Matt Bostock were taken to hospital after an incident involving several riders who collided on a turn.
The morning session of cycling was abandoned and spectators were asked to leave the Lee Valley velodrome in London as Walls received treatment behind a temporary screen after the crash.
Witnesses said Walls was trying to avoid riders who had fallen in a crash lower down the banking but as he rode up, he clipped another wheel and went over the top. Because of the gradient of the banking on the track, spectators in the front row could not see the crash unfolding, nor Walls coming towards them.