Cycling at the Commonwealth Games was hit by another horrific crash on Sunday afternoon, which saw England’s Matt Walls thrown over the barrier into the crowd, leaving athletes and spectators in need of urgent medical attention.
In the second qualifying heat of the men’s 15 km scratch qualifying, several riders fell and England’s Matt Walls flew his bike over the barrier and into the crowd.
Fellow racer Matt Bostock was taken away on a stretcher while Walls, 24, was treated for more than 40 minutes before being taken away by ambulance.
Spectators were also injured after Walls and his bike went over the barriers on the corner’s high drop-off.
The 24-year-old Omnium Olympic champion tried to dodge riders who had fallen in a crash further down the bank, but as he was going up, he clipped another wheel and went over the top.
Witnesses testified that spectators in the front row were unseen because of the slope of the embankment for the crash.
A man was treated for lacerations to his arm, while a young girl also received minor treatment, while another member of the crowd was taken away in a blood-covered wheelchair.
England cyclist Matt Walls landed in the crowd on the final lap of the men’s 15km race
Walls flew his bike over the barrier and into the crowd on the final lap of the velodrome
Spectators needed urgent medical attention after the major collision on the route
The 24-year-old Omnium Olympic champion tried to avoid riders in a fall further down
After the collision, the remainder of that session at the velodrome was abandoned and there was only one sprint race left before a break.
The remainder of the morning session at the velodrome was canceled and spectators were asked to leave while medical staff tended to Walls.
Walls and Bostock were both treated by medics before being taken to hospital for further treatment.
The remainder of the Velodrome session was abandoned after the major collision
England’s racing team tweeted: “Thoughts go out to all the riders involved in the velodrome accident.”
Scottish Cycling said: “Unfortunately we have just experienced another major crash at the velodrome.
“Kyle Gordon got taken down but luckily got up and got back on that bike.
“Our thoughts with the two drivers who are being treated medically.”
British Cycling has posted a statement on social media about the bike accident
Scotland Cycling also wished both riders well after the crash at the velodrome
Welsh Cycling added: “Today we send our love and best wishes to those injured in the Velodrome accident.
“On behalf of all of us at Welsh Cycling, we hope for a speedy recovery.
“We can confirm that Will Roberts is fine and was not involved in the accident.”
Welsh Cycling also wished Matt Walls and Matt Bostock a speedy recovery from the crash
Cyclist Joe Truman, standing on the back of the Englishman, was knocked unconscious after a horrific crash while riding at 45mph in the keirin as his old roommate Jack Carlin won silver for Scotland.
Truman suffered a broken collarbone in the collision when the 25-year-old was thrown through the air on the final lap of the Keirin semifinals after driving into Australia’s Matthew Glaetzer, who fell on the deck in front of him.
Truman had nowhere to go when Glaetzer touched wheels with Carlin on the second lap of the event, sending the Englishman flying straight over the top of the Aussie at 45mph before slamming into the hard ground.
Joe Truman was knocked unconscious after colliding with Australian Matthew Glaetzer at around 45mph
Truman, 25, was being treated by medics and was taken to hospital after the accident with a broken collarbone and head trauma
Team Australia’s Matthew Glaetzer and Team England’s Joe Truman crash during the Men’s Track Cycling Keirin Second Round Heat One on day two of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham on July 30, 2022 at the Lee Valley Velopark Velodrome
This is the moment Truman slammed into the velodrome’s wooden embankment at 45 miles per hour
Team England’s Joe Truman is carried away by paramedics after falling in the men’s keirin on day two of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham
The 25-year-old initially lay motionless on the infield of the velodrome when medical staff rushed to his aid.
After regaining consciousness, the stricken driver was assisted in a wheelchair, given oxygen, and taken to the hospital for treatment of his collarbone and head scans.
It’s just the latest setback for a rider who has spent the past two years struggling with a back problem that has ruled him out of the running for the Tokyo Olympics.
After being treated by doctors while he lay unconscious, a shaken Truman gestures to the applauding crowd as he is wheeled out of the velodrome and taken to the hospital
Olympic cycling hero Sir Chris Hoy described the impact of the fall as “about the size you can get in cycling”.
“It reminds us how tough these guys are and how brave you have to be,” he said.
“Joe has had a lot of struggles with injuries throughout his career but he is very strong willed. I don’t know if I could have come back from the things he came back from,” Carlin continued, referring to Truman’s back injury that ruined his Tokyo Olympics campaign.
“That’s just another hiccup in the road for Joe…Hopefully it’s not too serious, he’ll be back on the bike in a couple of weeks and he’s got a lot to achieve – (next year) we have the Nations Cup, the World Championships in Glasgow and the Paris Olympics – he has time on his side and knowing Joe he will come back stronger than ever.”