Commonwealth Games 2022: Great Chris Boardman blames crash on riders’ difference in the ability

A cycling great has blamed the horror crash at the velodrome which injured cyclists and crowd members on one thing.

Matt Walls goes over the barrier into the crowd

British cycling great Chris Boardman has blamed the big difference in the ability of riders from a range of countries competing at the Commonwealth Games for the “almost unheard-of” carnage at the velodrome on Day 3.

English cyclist Matt Walls and his bike were flung over the rail and into the crowd at the Lee Valley velodrome in London after the horror crash in the second heat of the men’s 15km scratch race.

The Isle of Man’s Matt Bostock was carried out of the velodrome by a stretcher and taken to hospital, as was Canada’s Derek Gee, who hit the advertising hoardings and fell back to the track.

Walls, the Olympic gold medal winner for the omnium at Tokyo last year, was also taken to hospital but only after he was treated in the stands for 40 minutes.

Joe Truman of England lays on the track after the horror crash at the velodrome. Picture: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

Multiple spectators were also injured when the 24-year-old’s bike flew into the stands.

Incredibly Team England announced that Walls had been discharged from hospital with stitches in his forehead, but “thankfully no major injuries”.

Boardman, the 1992 Olympic gold medallist in the individual pursuit who is at the velodrome commentating for the BBC, told News Corp he had never witnessed anything like it.

“We’ve seen a bike in the crowd before, in fact it nearly hit us in commentary in Colombia probably about a decade ago,” Boardman said.

“But to actually see someone leave the track is incredibly rare, the circumstances that amount for that to come together is almost unheard-of.”

The huge pile-up, that caught-up eight riders, happened when Bostock and Bahamas rider Jamol Eastmond hit the boards.

After the crash, there were suggestions that the presence of smaller nations was contributing to the higher risk of crashes because they weren’t as technically sound as athletes from countries such as Australia, England and New Zealand.

In the previous heat, Stephen Alberto Belle of the Seychelles crashed early on in the race.

Boardman said the huge gap between riders’ abilities at the Commonwealth Games did need to be taken into account.

“It was a pretty messy thing,” he said. “With a Commonwealth Games there is a pretty big mix of ability here and that is why there tends to be more timed events than mass starts.

“Yeah (it can be dangerous with the big difference in abilities) but that is also the beauty of it, it adds more depth and allows more people to take part in different events as well than the Olympic Games.

“It has hung on to traditional events like the individual pursuit for example.

“So I think it is one of those things that you have to take and manage, so one of the ways you manage it is to bring the group size down, which is why we saw heats.

“We saw in the first heat the experienced riders got on the front and whittled the bunch down and that didn’t happen in the second heat.”

Australia’s Josh Duffy was caught up in the crash, but was able to get back on his bike and finish the race. He qualified for the final.

Cyclist’s selfless post after horror crowd crash

An English track cyclist miraculously avoided serious injury after a freak crash in which he and his bike were flung into the crowd at the velodrome injuring himself and spectators.

Officials abandoned the morning session of the third day of track cycling at the Commonwealth Games at the Lee Valley velodrome after the horror crash.

England’s Matt Walls and his bike were flung over the railings and into the crowd after a big pileup at the start of the last lap of the men’s 15km scratch race.

Spectators were also injured as Walls and his bike flew over the railing.

Staff and doctors quickly rushed to Walls, who was treated in the seating area for more than 40 minutes.

Thank you everyone for the messages and support!

I’ve somehow come away with no serious injures just a few stitches and pretty banged up.

I really hope everyone else involved is ok including the spectators that may have been injured @TeamEngland@birminghamcg22#B2022

— Matt Walls (@wallsey_98) July 31, 2022

Walls was taken to hospital, after a prolonged period.

Staff at one point set up a privacy screen as he was treated.

Six hours after the incident, team England provided a positive updated on Walls’s condition.

“Following medical treatment in hospital, Matt Walls has been discharged with stitches in his forehead,” a statement said.

“Thankfully no major injuries. We send our best wishes to all other riders and spectators involved in the crash and thank the medical teams for their expert care.”

England’s Matt Walls goes over the barrier into the crowd.

England’s Matt Walls is carried on a stretcher. Picture: Adrian Dennis/AFP

Spectators were also treated, with at least one left bloodied and another taken away in a wheelchair.

Team England also confirmed that none required hospital treatment.

Vision on social media showed the sickening moment that several riders - including Walls - were tangled up before the English athlete crashed over the barrier.

Another rider - Canada’s Derek Gee - also flew up towards the barrier before heavily colliding with the outside, rebounding and crashing down to the base of the track.

Spectators were seen covering their mouths in shock, while young children near the crash could be seen crying.

Images also show blood splattered in the stands as medical staff and volunteers rushed to aid Walls and the injured spectators.

Isle of Man's Matthew Bostock is carried on a stretcher

Stephen Burgess, an event worker, said multiple spectators were caught up in the incident.

“I was just on duty during the race and then there was a loud bang and screams from the crowd,” he said.

“I saw a bike from the track coming into the spectator area, a lot of screaming and suddenly I realised that one of the athletes had gone over the barrier into the crowd.

“Eventually when I did start looking there were spectators who were injured and asking for assistance.

“There was blood and medics and doctors not on duty came rushing to help.

“The injuries seem to be arm and leg, someone was hit in the face by the bike – which was since removed.

“The athlete required oxygen, he did eventually move and the medics said he was breathing.”

Australia’s Josh Duffy was caught up in the crash but was able to finish his race and qualify from the heat.

Spectators and competitors are treated after cyclists crashed ending up in the crowd.

A statement from British Cycling said: “Following a crash in the men’s scratch, Matt Walls & Matt Bostock are being treated by medics before being taken to hospital for further treatment. “We send our best wishes to the riders and spectators involved in the incident, and will provide a further update when we can.”

Scottish Cycling said: “Unfortunately we have just witnessed another big crash at the velodrome.

“Kyle Gordon was taken down but thankfully got up and got back on this bike.

“Our thoughts with the two riders who are receiving medical attention”

Welsh Cycling added: “Sending our love and best wishes to those injured in the crash at the Velodrome today.

Medics tend to spectators following a massive crash during the men's 15km scratch race

The rider who came over the barrier was England’s Matt Walls. A lot of concern here at the velodrome. One member of the crowd has been wheeled off covered in blood.

— Laura Scott (@LauraScott__) July 31, 2022

Barking News It appears @Matt_Bostock has suffered from a heavy crash at the Lee Valley velodrome in the scratch race qualifying session. We will share more details when they become available. #CommonwealthGames#Isleofman

— Isle Of Red TV News (@IomMediaTVRadio) July 31, 2022

Thoughts are with all the riders involved in the crash in the velodrome.

🙏

— Team England (@TeamEngland) July 31, 2022

“On behalf of all of us at Welsh Cycling we hope for a speedy recovery.

“We can confirm that Will Roberts is ok, and was not involved in the accident.”

The incident comes a day after Australia’s Matthew Glaetzer’s huge wipeout in the keirin, which knocked out England’s Joe Truman and broke his collarbone.