Crashes are part of game in track cycling: German coach

Crashes can never be fully avoided in track cycling and are part of the sport, German sprint coach Jan van Eijden has said in the wake of several incidents at the European Chmpionships in Munich, reported dpa.

"It is part of sport, especially in cycling. You must accept that you can fall when you step onto the track," former sprint world champion van Eijden said.

He said that everyone hopes that nothing happens but "you are riding close side by side and if you are not close you have fewer chances of winning."

The Munich Championships have seen several crashes, the latest on Monday night when Argiro Milaki of Greece and Ukraine's Hanna Solovey required long medical treatment and were taken to hospital on drips after being among five riders who tumbled down in the women's Omnium race.

The Greek federation said later that Milaki escaped fractures but damaged her shoulder blade and would undergo further examinations in Greece.

There was no statement on the condition of Solovey.

On Saturday, world champion Letizia Paternoster of Italy suffered craniocerebral trauma and broke her right collarbone when she was among five riders who crashed in the elimination race final.