[imagesource: Will Palmer / SWpix.com]

We’ve become accustomed to seeing massive crashes and pile-ups in the Tour de France, often because of idiotic behaviour on the part of the roadside crowd.

There can be no blame given to the crowd watching the Commonwealth Games 15-kilometre Scratch Race qualifying at Birmingham’s Lee Valley VeloPark on Sunday, though.

Team England’s Matt Walls was catapulted over the barriers and into the crowd. Two spectators were treated for injuries, and Matt Bostock of the Isle of Man was taken away on a stretcher. Canada’s Derek Gee was also treated in hospital, reports The Washington Post.

24-year-old Walls was trying to avoid two riders sliding up the banking.

All in all, eight riders were involved in the high-speed crash. This is the only footage of the moment Walls ended up in the crowd:

Images taken from various angles show more clearly what transpired:

Image: EPA

Image: AP

Image: Garry Bowden / Shutterstock

Image: Will Palmer / SWpix.com

Image: Alex Broadway / SWpix.com

It’s vaguely reminiscent of Zhou Guanyu’s crash during last month’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone. Thankfully, on that occasion, Zhou’s vehicle was stopped at the last moment from flipping into the crowd by fencing.

Following the crash on Sunday, Walls took to social media to let everyone know he was okay.

Thank you everyone for the messages and support!

I’ve somehow come away with no serious injures just a few stitches and pretty banged up.

I really hope everyone else involved is ok including the spectators that may have been injured @TeamEngland @birminghamcg22 #B2022

— Matt Walls (@wallsey_98) July 31, 2022

Both Gee and Bostock sent similar messages.

In the wake of the crash, there have been renewed calls for bigger barriers or screens to be fitted in velodromes.

[source:washpost]