Three female riders involved in terrifying 40mph crash at the Olympic velodrome, as bikes are demolished and medics rush to the scene

A horrifying high-speed crash at the Olympic velodrome saw three riders suffer nasty injuries in the women’s keirin event on Thursday.

Medics rushed to the scene as riders slid down the surface of the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines velodrome with bikes smashed to pieces and spectators left stunned following the 40mph collision.

Three out of the six competing cyclists were thrown off their bikes when Netherlands star Steffie van der Peet came off as her bike slid out from underneath and clattered into those around her.

Van der Peet was attempting to mount a charge on the race leaders, rising higher into the curved track and pedalling hard to gain momentum, only to find herself careering into other riders.

While being catapulted off her bike, the Dutch cyclist smashed into the back wheel of China’s Yuan Liying who fell sideways into the ground as pieces of her demolished bike flew into the air.

Netherlands rider Steffie van der Peet (right) crashed into China’s Yuan Liying (middle) and Belgium’s Nicky Degrendele (far left)

A horrifying high-speed crash at the Olympic velodrome saw three riders suffer nasty injuries in the women’s keirin event

A domino effect then saw her clip Belgium’s Nicky Degrendele, with the pair getting tangled as momentum carried them forward while others attempted to avoid becoming entangled.

Degrendele did well to try and stay on her machine and looked to have avoided the worst of the incident but was eventually brought down and went over the handlebars with her head appearing to strike the ground.

The Belgian looked in serious discomfort as medical personnel rushed to her aid, while China’s Liying looked visibly upset as she was helped back to her feet by support staff.

More to follow.