Tokyo Olympics 2021: Horror Izu Velodrome crash rocks Australia’s campaign, component removed from public sale

The cycle component that failed and caused an Aussie’s shocking velodrome crash has been removed from sale amid questions about its integrity.

Alex Porter had a catastrophic equipment failure at 65km/h. Picture: Valery Sharifulin/Getty

A 3D-printed component at the centre of Australia’s catastrophic velodrome crash has been removed from public sale amid concerns about its shock failure, News Corp can reveal.

Melbourne bike component manufacturer Bastion Cycles confirmed its handlebar, which is understood to be a piece of 3D-printed titanium, was to blame for the crash which sent rider Alex Porter face-first into the track on the first night of competition at Izu Velodrome.

Australia’s mechanics and engineers were on Tuesday frantically reviewing the strength of the team’s bikes following the crash, however, it is understood Porter was the only Australian using the component.

Manufacturer Bastion Cycles took responsibility for the failure and said it was urgently working to determine the cause.

Alex Porter had a catastrophic equipment failure at 65km/h. Picture: Valery Sharifulin/Getty

The company said the handlebar, worth $4584, would also be removed from sale to the public “out of an abundance of caution”.

“Our first concern was for Alex Porter and the entire team,“ Bastion co-founder Ben Schultz said.

“We are in constant contact with the Australian Olympic cycling team and coaches, and give our assurances that we are using all means available to investigate why this occurred.

“Our focus at this time is to continue supporting the Australian cycling team for the remainder of the competition.“

Bastion also confirmed the handlebars were approved for use by UCI, the world governing body for cycling, after rumours Australia would be penalised for using its component. Bastion, a hi-tech Melbourne manufacturer, has been providing custom-made components for athletes since 2016.

AusCycling confirmed the part involved in the crash was not manufactured by Argon 18, a Canadian manufacturer that supplies bikes to the Australian team.

“While the immediate focus is on the success of the Australian Cycling Team across the remainder of the Olympic program, there will be a thorough investigation and review of the factors involved in the incident,” an AusCycling spokesman said.

The result ends the team’s shot at gold, however, Jones said it was a remarkable ride after the crash.

“They did an amazing time there – fifth is not where we wanted but we can go for the bronze,” he said.

Alex Porter hits the wood. Picture: Valery Sharifulin/Getty

Alex Porter after the crash. Picture: Greg Baker/AFP

Australia’s women also struggled on the opening night of the competition, missing a shot at gold on Tuesday after qualifying second last.

The squad narrowly trailed leaders Germany for the first three-quarters of the ride, however the Australians’ pace dropped off in the final four laps.

Germany’s women set a blistering time – demolishing the 4:10:236 world record set by Great Britain in Rio by a staggering 2.9 seconds.

Matt Glaetzer says the Aussies are ‘gunning for’ the team sprint event.

Brutal velodrome awaits ‘fastest Aussies in history’

World records are set to tumble at Japan’s Izu Velodrome with “hot and fast” conditions set to greet Australia’s track cyclists when their medal campaign begins on Monday.

Australia is considered a shot at an Olympic medal in the team sprint and pursuit events after a year-and-a-half absence from global competition due to Covid-19.

There is a buzz in the Australian cycling camp, with rumours swirling the Tokyo team is among the quickest in history.

However, three-time Olympian and pursuit rider Annette Edmondson was coy when questioned about the speed of the Aussies.

“We‘ve been definitely riding quickly but I don’t want to give anything away and I don’t want to jinx anything,” she said.

“I just want to make sure we can put down a really fast qualifying ride on Monday and we’ll see.

“As long as we put absolutely everything on the table, have a good ride and trust each other I think we‘ll be satisfied.”

Edmondson said the Covid-19 forced break from global competition made it impossible to compare athlete performances.

“We all don’t know what the opposition is doing,” she said.

“That’s why it’s so exciting because we just don’t know what to expect.”

The heat within the Izu Velodrome, located 145km south of Tokyo, is tipped to offer favourable conditions to riders and see records beaten.

“We sent a team two years ago to Japan to see what the conditions would be like in July and now we’re here, we can confirm it’s incredibly hot and fast,” Edmondson said.

“I would not be surprised if there were a lot of records broken.”

Annette Edmondson says the Aussies are flying, but wouldn’t give too much else away.

Matt Glaetzer said the team sprint event was the one Australia was “gunning for”, however, a back niggle suffered by teammate Matt Richardson threatens the team’s chances.

“We believe we’re right up there for the medals,” Glaetzer said.

“It’s not been the perfect preparation but we can still really work with what we’ve got.

“We‘ve had to overcome our challenges but it doesn’t change the fact we’re still a really quick team.”

Originally published as Tokyo Olympics 2021: Horror Izu Velodrome crash rocks Australia’s campaign, component removed from public sale