British Olympic champion Katy Marchant hospitalised after crashing into velodrome crowd

Britain’s Katy Marchant and Germany’s Alessa-Catriona Propster, as well as four spectarors, needed medical treatment after a high-speed crash forced the UCI Track Champions League in London to be abandoned. WATCH THE VIDEO

Great Britain’s Katy Marchant needed hospital treatment after a terrifying crash at the UCI Track Champions League in London prompted organisers to abandon the event.

Olympic champion Marchant, 31, and Germany’s Alessa-Catriona Propster, 23, collided during the heats, resulting in both flying over the barriers at speed and landing – along with their bikes – in the crowd. The race was immediately stopped and both riders received medical treatment, along with four spectators.

Katy Marchant and Alessa-Catriona Propster go over the barrier around the velodrome and into the crowd. Picture: YouTube

Marchant, part of the Team GB women’s team sprint that won gold in world record time at the Paris Olympics, was competing in the women’s keirin event at Lee Valley Velo Park.

The British rider was carried out of the velodrome and taken to hospital after receiving treatment at the scene for about 30 minutes, after reportedly fracturing her forearm in the crash.

At the same venue at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, a high-speed collision resulted in England’s Matt Walls being catapulted over the barriers and into the crowd. This year the London venue installed a 1.4-metre barrier, costing $500,000, around the track.

Meanwhile, double Olympic road cycling champion Remco Evenepoel, 24, could spend “eight weeks without a bicycle” after he suffered multiple fractures when he crashed during training in preparation of the new season last week.

The Belgian, who won road race and time-trial gold at the Paris Olympics, was rushed to hospital on Tuesday after striking the open door of a stationary van in Brussels. He broke a hand, ribs and shoulder blade.

Evenepoel is no stranger to dramatic crashes – his most serious to date was during the 2020 Tour of Lombardy when he plunged 20m into a ravine and suffered a pelvic fracture and lung injuries.