Commonwealth Games cyclists in ‘horrific’ crash as commentator gasps | Other | Sport

The final of the Men’s cycling 10km scratch race in the Commonwealth Games was marred by a big crash on the penultimate lap, which caused several riders to fall across the track. The race saw England’s Henry Hobbs come through to take the gold medal.

The crash occurred during live coverage of the race on TNT Sport, leaving some in the studio gasping. “Oh my goodness,” presenter Becky Ives exclaimed.

Dame Sarah Storey, who was talking through the race, then said: “It’s happened mid-bunch there, so so many riders affected by that particular crash, but the race goes on, fortunately, everyone is off the track.”

The scratch race is a simple race at a certain distance, at this time it was 10km. The winner is the rider who crosses the line first after the distance has been completed.

After the end of the race, Storey added: “An absolutely horrific situation with just over one lap to go, there is the men’s scratch race. Probably about eight or nine riders affected and down.

“An absolutely horrible situation to have to ride around, but obviously a horrible situation to have to watch. But success for the English team, albeit in such horrible circumstances.

“For young Henry Hobbs, who took the gold medal there, Tom Cornish (Australia) confirmed with the silver and then Ethan Vernon (England) in third. There was no gold for Team England last night, so this is their second gold of the championships.”

When asked how fast they were going, Storey added: “They’d have been touching 70kmh, the sprint, the final sprint. In the final laps they’ll be going incredibly quickly and when you have a touch of wheels when you do in a race like that, then it has a domino effect and there’s nothing you can do to react.

“In any type of cycling you have to learn to crash, so if you’re relaxed or whether you’re not relaxed in that particular position. So many riders going down incredibly hard there, so an incredibly difficult situation.”

“I really hope that everybody is in a position to be able to be walking wounded rather than anything more serious,” she added.

Ives then said: “Absolutely, we hope everybody in that race is ok. It’s really dramatic when you watch it and you see it all like dominoes isn’t it? Yes, but we’re wishing all the best wishes, get well soon wishes to every rider in that final.”