Urban downhill racing is on the rise and sees riders race through towns and villages over a selection of street and custom-made obstacles. The format has ben around for a while now, and with every passing race the tracks have become even more challenging and ever more dangerous.
Taxco featured a number of staircases, drops and even a set of manmade dirt jumps. It was on these dirt jumps that the Commencal Team rider ran into trouble. Metailler attempted to backflip over the final huge jump but overshot the landing resulting in the “biggest slam” of his life.
Luckily though the break hasn’t paralyzed the rider and in fact he was able to get up and even dance around after the accident. Medical staff at the event originally diagnosed the injury as muscle damage but a check up in Guadalajara revealed a cracked and compressed T6 vertebrae.
Metailler plans to be fit and riding again soon, but will obviously take some time off from backflips and whips while he heals
Serious accidents like this seem to be plaguing mountain biking recently and it was only a few weeks ago that riders at the Redbull Rampage refused to drop in due to safety concerns. With these recent safety concerns is it time for mountain bike events to take a closer look at safety or is it up to the athletes who take part to decide if the risk is worth taking or now?
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I reckon it’s a game for future paralympians…