New Pan Am Games velodrome attacks Cuban cyclist

A $63 million price tag, the finest Siberian spruce, and the world’s leading construction experts were not enough to make Milton, Ont.’s new Olympic-calibre velodrome completely safe.

Hard falls are an occupational hazard in track cycling. The injuries run the gamut from bumps and bruises, to breaks, to track burn – and splinters. On Saturday at the Pan Am Games cycling competition, Cuban cyclist Lisandra Guerra suffered one of the worst track splinters you will see. Brace yourself:

Guerra touched wheels while in pursuit of her competitor and, as you can see, slid long and hard on the track. The ensuing splinter wasn’t pretty.

Guerra can take some solace in the fact that she had already won two silver medals at the Pan Am Games. She finished second in the women’s Keirin event, then added another silver in the team sprint. The 27 year old won gold in the sprint four years ago in Guadalajara.