Katy Marchant breaks arm in horror crash into crowd at Track Champions League

Olympic champion Katy Marchant suffered a broken arm after she crashed over the barrier and into the crowd at the UCI Track Champions League in London on Saturday night.

The incident occurred during the first round of the keirin, when the Brit collided with Germany’s Alessa-Catriona Pröpster, and the pair were catapulted into the audience at the top of the banking.

Marchant, Pröpster and four spectators received medical assistance at the scene. Pröpster was able to walk away after around 10 minutes, while Marchant remained on the floor for half an hour, accompanied by her husband Rob, before she was carried out of London’s Lee Valley Velodrome.

In a statement shared with Cycling Weekly, British Cycling said: "After receiving immediate medical care from the medical team at the track, Katy was accompanied by the British Cycling doctor to hospital where she underwent x-rays that confirmed a fractured radius and ulna in her right forearm, as well as two dislocated fingers.

"Katy is in good spirits and is being well cared for by her medical team. We wish her a full and speedy recovery."

Cycling Weekly understands Pröpster and the spectators involved in the incident suffered only minor injuries.

Following the crash, the final round of the Track Champions League was suspended, and spectators were told to leave the velodrome.

An official statement from the organisers read: "WBD Sports, British Cycling, Lee Valley VeloPark, and the Union Cycliste Internationale unanimously decided to suspend all further racing for the evening and want to extend their best wishes for a speedy recovery to both riders and all affected spectators.

"We are working closely with all parties to review the incident before taking appropriate action."

The crash was reminiscent of one involving former Olympic Omnium champion Matt Walls during the 2022 Commonwealth Games, which happed on the same bend inside the Lee Valley Velodrome.

Walls’s crash, which left him with minor injuries, was a factor that prompted the venue to increase the height of its safety fence around the perimeter of the track. A 1.4m barrier, costing £250,000, was installed this year.

This weekend’s Track Champions League rounds were only the second event held at the velodrome since the taller safety fences were put in place.

This summer, Marchant became Olympic champion in the team sprint, alongside her British teammates Sophie Capewell and Emma Finucane. The same trio went on to win the world title in the event in October, marking a dominant year for the squad.

Saturday's round of the Track Champions League was the season's 'Grand Final'. Earlier in the evening, Katie Archibald was crowned the winner of the women's endurance league. At the time of Marchant's crash, events still remained in the men's endurance league and the two sprint leagues, with winners yet to be announced.