Absolute carnage in BMX quarters

A number of BMX riders have been seriously injured and unable to continue competition after multiple huge crashes in the quarter-finals.

With some riders blaming a dangerous course, and others simply the competitiveness of the participants, almost every qualifying race finished with a crash on Day 13.

World champion Joris Daudet was worst affected, appearing to suffer a broken collarbone (in the video below), while a fellow competitor lost the front wheel of his bike in the same crash.

Meanwhile, two-time Olympic BMX champion Maris Strombergs also crashed in his first quarter-final heat.

The Latvian tried to continue in the next heat but was too hurt.

British star Liam Phillips was also seriously affected and did not finish.

Officials were forced to spend a large part of the day helping injured riders.

Aussies Anthony Dean and Sam Willoughby were lucky to escape the carnage and are through to the semi-finals of the BMX.

Willoughby finished first in all three runs in the quarter-finals and therefore goes through to the next round as the gold medal favourite.

See his amazing efforts here: