London, Europe Brief News – Cyclist Matt Walls was involved in a terrible crash in which both he and his bike flew into the crowd at track cycling’s Lee Valley VeloPark.
The 24-year-old Olympic champion was treated in the stands for more than half an hour before being taken by ambulance to hospital for tests.
The Isle of Man’s Matt Bostock and Canada’s Derek Gee were taken to hospital for tests.
Spectators were also injured, with one taken away in a wheelchair.
The rest of the session was abandoned and spectators were asked to leave while Walls was having treatment.
Walls was “alert and talking”, said a Team England spokesperson.
The crash happened in the final lap of the of the men’s scratch race qualifying as eight riders collided on the track.
Walls had been trying to avoid riders who had fallen in an incident that began on the entrance to the corner. The stricken pair of New Zealander George Jackson and Australia’s Josh Duffy were sliding up the banking, forcing Walls up on to the barrier and then over it into the crowd.
Footage from the race showed Walls colliding with several spectators.
Gee also surfed the top of the barrier but managed to avoid following Walls into the stands.
Racing was abandoned for the morning session and spectators were asked to leave as medical staff attended to Walls and the other riders.
A Birmingham 2022 spokesperson said: “Three cyclists and two spectators have been treated by the on-site medical team.
“The three cyclists have been taken to hospital. The two spectators did not require hospital treatment.”
Walls won omnium gold and madison silver for Team GB at last summer’s Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Canadian Mathias Guillemette was disqualified from the race for causing the initial crash.
