Cyclist Critiques Rival's Actions After Commonwealth Games Crash

Team England cyclist Matthew Richardson stated he has not received an apology after a collision with a rival rider in July forced him out of the Commonwealth Games. Richardson was knocked off the track during a Keirin World Series event in Japan by Japanese cyclist Kento Suzuki, resulting in him being transported from the velodrome in an ambulance.

Richardson sustained a broken scapula and a severely bruised hip in the incident. He told The Times that the severity of the crash could have led to more serious consequences. "If I’d landed in a slightly different way, I might not be walking," he said, adding, "Given how the crash happened, coming away with the injuries I had was probably pretty lucky."

The 27-year-old cyclist, who previously won gold for Australia in 2022 before switching his allegiance to England, was considered a favorite to defend his title in Glasgow. The crash, however, ended his participation in the Games before it began.

Richardson expressed disappointment with the incident, noting that while racers understood the risks involved in international competition, the actions of Suzuki crossed a line. "There’s a difference between argy-bargy and intentionally taking a wider line to hit someone off their bike," Richardson stated.

He also commented on the aftermath, mentioning that he had not spoken with Suzuki and did not intend to. "A line was crossed that day, for sure," he said. "It’s pretty disappointing that that can happen in keirin racing, that a rider has decided to put another rider’s safety at risk like that."

Regarding his recovery, Richardson reported that his hip healed quickly, but his shoulder has taken longer due to the demands of sprinting. He reflected on his history of crashes, suggesting his background in gymnastics may have helped him avoid more severe injuries in the past, but described this incident as his worst crash to date.

Some Australian cyclists, who were former teammates of Richardson, made light of the crash. Leigh Hoffman joked about Richardson's "Hogwarts invitation" and expressed disappointment that Richardson did not remain in Australia to race against them. Ryan Elliott also alluded to the rivalry that has developed since Richardson switched his allegiance to England.