A Malaysian cyclist was stretchered off the track and another lost his teeth in a horrific crash that marred Tom Cornish’s silver medal in the velodrome at the Commonwealth Games.
Cornish was one of three Australians to escape the carnage of the crash that unfolded with just one lap left in the men’s 10-kilometre scratch race on Saturday in Glasgow.
(L-R) Jadian Neaves and Matthew Dobbins fall. Quinn Rooney
Riders were jockeying for position when one racer clipped the back of another’s wheel, causing seven athletes to fall off their bikes and hit the track.
England’s Henry Hobbs eventually won gold and Cornish snatched silver, but the celebrations were marred by a stretcher that was brought out to the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome to assist Malaysia’s New Joe Lau.
The 21-year-old is reportedly in hospital undergoing treatment after complaining of a knee injury. He also sustained injuries around his mouth, with reports suggesting staff were sent out to the track to look for his missing teeth.
Medics also attended to Grenada’s Red Walters, who has suffered a suspected collarbone fracture, and Canada’s Jonathan Hinse, who walked off gingerly.
Cornish and the rest of the riders in the scratch race were believed to be travelling around 70km/h at the time of the crash.
The Australian silver medallist admits crashes of this nature are “something that (riders) are used to”, regardless of the meet.
“I’ve been doing this sport for almost 20 years, and it just becomes a part of it, really,” he said.
“You get used to crashing. I’ve crashed probably five times this year. I’ve been really lucky; I’ve never broken a bone or anything, which is pretty rare.
Silver medallist Thomas Cornish during the medal ceremony for the men’s 10km scratch race. Getty Images
“It is really just a bit of luck. If it happens to be one person further forward, you crash; if it doesn’t, then you make it through, and that’s kind of how it is.
“I was quite lucky that I was within those few bikes that were ahead of it. At that point, it’s an all-out sprint anyway. There’s not really much that you can change.”