Great Britain’s Olympic team rider Cathy Marchant has suffered a major crash that has forced the UCI Track Champions League event in London to be suspended.
Marchand, part of the women’s team sprint that won gold in a new world record at the Paris Olympics, was competing in the women’s keirin at Lee Valley Velo Park.
Alessa-Catriona Propster, 31, and Germany’s Alessa-Catriona Propster collided during the heats, sending both speeding over barriers and landing with their bikes in the crowd.
The race was immediately stopped and both riders received medical attention along with four spectators, Marchant was taken to hospital for further assessment and the UCI confirmed that the rest of the night’s action had been cancelled.
The statement says: “We can confirm that following an incident during tonight’s women’s Keirin race, the remainder of the UCI Track Champions League race at Lee Valley VeloPark has been cancelled.”
“We can confirm that two riders and four spectators have received medical treatment following an incident at London’s Lee Valley VeloPark during tonight’s UCI Track Champions League event.
“The incident occurred during the women’s Keirin race. Event medics responded immediately, and one rider was taken to hospital.
“WBD Sports, British Cycling, Lee Valley VeloPark and the Union Cycliste Internationale have unanimously decided to suspend all further competition for the evening and extend their best wishes for a speedy recovery to both the riders and all spectators affected.
“We would also like to thank the medical staff for their quick response and continued support. We are working closely with all parties to review the incident before taking appropriate action.”
After about 30 minutes of treatment at the scene, Marchant was taken from the velodrome and taken to hospital, where the British rider suffered a fractured forearm.
Saturday’s action in London was the last of five rounds of the UCI Track Champions League season, which kicked off in France on November 23, before the next round in Apeldoorn in the Netherlands next weekend.
