"A line was crossed that day" - British rider blasts rival's actions that led to horror crash and broken hip in track race
Cycling
British track rider Matthew Richardson has blasted the rider who caused a horror crash that saw him break his hip in July. Returning at the Track World Championships next week, the rider has made a swift recovery but blasted the perpetuator of the crash's actions.
Competing in the Keirin World Series in Japan in late July, he was knocked over by Japanese rider Kento Suzuki. He claims that Suzuki has not contacted him despite the crash leading to a severe injury.
Despite making his return just over two months later, Richardson knows that things could have been worse should he have fallen a different way.
"If I had landed differently, I might not be walking now," Richardson told The Times.
"I was just lying there on the ground and it felt like my entire right side was on fire. But it could have been much worse. When you look at the crash, I think in some ways I should still consider myself pretty lucky."
Dutch rider Harrie Lavreysen is Richardson's biggest rival
"A line was crossed that day"
Claiming that a line was crossed by his competitor, he inferred that the move was intentional as he expressed his disappointment - labelling the crash the worst he has seen on the track.
“I haven’t spoken to him yet, but a line was crossed that day. We were aware of the risk: as international riders coming to Japan to compete in keirin races, we knew things could get rough. But there is a difference between riding roughly and intentionally taking a wider line to ram someone off their bike.”
“It is quite disappointing that something like this can happen in keirin races, that a rider decided to endanger the safety of another rider in that way. We understand the risks, but this absolutely went a step too far. This was absolutely the worst crash I have ever witnessed."
The Track World Championships run from October 14 to 18 in Shanghai, and mark the start of the qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games - an important milestone for many riders competing at the championships.
World Championships take place next week
Dutch rider Harrie Lavreysen is the reigning world champion in four events ahead of next week, and with Richarson his biggest rival in recent seasons, the pair spent time together in Japan for the world series as European champion Richardson and the world champion got to know each other outside of racing.
"He was very proud of his European title and had the Euro stripes everywhere, for example on his helmet. He showed them to me there every day, and I saw that as fuel. I thought: you keep those, and I'll go for the rainbow," Lavreysen said.
“We even shared a room in Japan. Without phones, because we had to hand them in. So I spoke to him more than ever, and that really lets you get to know each other."
He added: "I think I can use that to my advantage as well. Normally I only see him in the infield and he never seems nervous then, but I noticed much more tension in him this time.”
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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