Lee Valley velodrome to install barrier after 2022 crash

A perspex obstruction will beryllium fitted astir nan Lee Valley VeloPark velodrome pursuing a horrifying clang astatine nan venue during nan 2022 Commonwealth Games.

A high-speed collision involving respective riders resulted successful England's Matt Walls being catapulted complete nan broadside of nan way and into nan crowd pinch his bike, pinch cyclists and spectators sustaining injuries.

The incident led to calls from Sir Chris Hoy and Dame Laura Kenny for improvements to velodrome safety.

The London venue will instal a 1.4 metre-high barrier, costing £250,000, astir nan way later this month.

In a statement, Lee Valley said nan obstruction is "a UK first for an existing velodrome and is believed to beryllium only nan 3rd of its benignant successful nan world to beryllium retrofitted".

It added that cycling's world governing body, nan UCI, was consulted connected nan creation of nan barrier, which it says will amended rider and spectator information arsenic good arsenic providing amended visibility done nan transparent surface for fans sitting astatine little levels.

It comes arsenic portion of £750,000 of improvements to nan venue that are scheduled to beryllium completed by nan extremity of August.

Walls, nan Isle of Man's Matt Bostock and Canada's Derek Gee went to infirmary aft nan clang connected nan last thigh of a qualifying power for nan men's scratch race, but nary of them sustained awesome injuries.

Spectators were besides injured, pinch 1 requiring room for a superior limb injury.