Cycling: Millar livid at motorbike crash injury

Britain's leading rider David Millar badly hurt his right elbow but was fortunate to escape without more serious injuries here yesterday after being knocked to the ground by an official race motorcycle whilst travelling at high speed in the two-day Criterium International event. Millar later accused the race organisers of trying to cover up the cause of the crash.

The Scot rode the last 15 kilometres of the hilly morning section of the race with his entire lower right arm covered in blood, finishing second last. He then pulled out before the afternoon time trial with the deep cut needing seven stitches.

"You can see all the muscle inside it's such a bad injury," Millar, who also has skin ripped off his back, said. "Getting hit like that was absolutely terrifying."

According to Millar, the accident, in which five other riders were also involved, was caused when an official motorbike struck his handlebars, something the race organiser, ASO – which also runs the Tour de France – has categorically denied. "They're lying," a furious Millar responded. "It's absolutely disgraceful that the best cycle race organisation in the world should try to cover this up."

Alasdair Fotheringham writes for Cycling Weekly