Crash sidelines cyclist

GLASGOW — A horrible collision in training will keep Canadian cyclist Nic Hamilton out of the track races at the Commonwealth Games.

The 27-year-old from Victoria suffered a concussion Wednesday when he collided at top speed with a female technical official on the track on the eve of competition.

The crash sent Hamilton and his bike flipping over the official, who was eventually taken away by stretcher after receiving medical attention. Hamilton was disoriented but able to walk off the track.

“He would have been travelling at 55 to 60 kilometres an hour,” said Kris Westwood, the high performance manager of Canada’s cycling teams and the team leader in Glasgow. “It broke his (bike) frame, and destroyed his helmet. So his helmet did the job it was supposed to do.”

Hamilton was coming out of the corner when he hit the official, who was there to signal that another team was setting up for a standing start. “Nic came around the banking and just saw her too late and hit her,” Westwood said. “He got a concussion, and he’s banged up and bruised.”

Canadian officials said the woman is believed to have suffered a concussion and a broken collarbone.

As per concussion protocol, Hamilton will be sidelined for at least seven days, forcing his withdrawal from the track events. Westwood said there is a possibility he could compete in the road events later in the Games.