Update, 12.10pm:
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A spectator is in a stable condition at the Alfred Hospital after being injured in a crash at the Bendigo International Madison.
11.40am:
Three of the cyclists are in a stable condition at Bendigo Hospital after a crash at the Bendigo International Madison.
Another has been discharged.
Four cyclists were taken by ambulance to Bendigo Hospital.
A spectator was taken to Bendigo Hospital then transferred to a hospital in Melbourne.
Monday, 9.45am:
A man in his 70s was taken to Bendigo Hospital in a stable condition with an injury to his head after a crash at the Bendigo International Madison on Sunday night.
Paramedics were called to reports of a cyclist collision on Bridge Lane in Bendigo at about 8.45pm.
A man in his late teens was also taken to hospital in a stable condition with an injury to his knee.
Two more men in their 20s were assessed at the scene. One had a minor leg injury and the other a minor facial injury.
Neither needed to be taken to hospital.
Sunday, 11:30pm: A spokesperson for Bendigo Health said all four riders that were transferred to hospital were in a stable condition, with two of the riders likely to be discharged in the coming hours.
The spokesperson said the spectator that was injured was also in a stable condition - with possible facial fractures - and was going to be transferred to a Melbourne metropolitan hospital.
10.35pm: Back-to-back Bendigo International Madison champions Kelland O'Brien and Sam Welsford. Read more here.
10.10pm: Sunday night's Bendigo International Madison was marred by a crash that involved half of the field and a spectator.
With 138 laps remaining of the 200-lap race, several riders hit the track heavily on the final bend, with one rider - Connor Leahy - spilling over the fence and striking a spectator.
The injured spectator was transported to Bendigo Hospital with facial injuries, while Madison riders Leahy, Christian Grassman, Minori Shimura, Tom McFarlane and James Moriaty were also taken to Bendigo Hospital.
Madison fan Peter Casey was standing on the bend where the crash happened.
"I suspect someone punctured… and when the crash happened it all sort of came this way (towards the fence) and the riders at the back couldn't avoid it,'' Casey said.
"One of the riders hit the fence, but fell along and went back into the track. One of the others went over the fence and crashed into a spectator."
After a delay of about an hour, the race was reduced to a further 60 laps where defending champions Sam Welsford and Kelland O'Brien took over.
After being tied for the lead when the crash occured, Welsford and O'Brien, who weren't involved in the incident, showed their class by winning three of the first four sprints.
Much to the delight of the crowd, Welsford and O'Brien went on to score 69 points and finished 36 clear of Luke Plapp and Jarrad Drizners.
9.40pm: The race is back underway after a delay of about an hour. 60 laps to go. Gutsy effort by a number of riders who were involved in crash, but have returned to racing.
Defending champions Sam Welsford and Kelland O'Brien are tied for the lead with Godfrey Slattery and Blake Quick.
9.15pm: The race will go ahead, with a number of teams to be changed.
Five teams are out of the race, while two new teams have been formed.
The race will re-start with 60 laps remaining.
12 teams will compete.
8.45pm: The Bendigo International Madison cycling event has been stopped after a crash midway through the race.
More than half the field crashed to the track on the home bend with one rider spilling over the fence and into the crowd.
Medical staff raced to the aid of injured riders and the race was immdediately stopped with 138 laps remaining.
Medical crews also attended an injured spectator.
German star Christian Grassman, riding in his last race before retirement, was one of the riders taken to hospital after suffering a shoulder injury.
Race leaders Sam Welsford and Kell O'Brien were not involved in the heavy crash.
Young Bendigo riders Isaac Buckell and Blake Agnoletto were not injured.
"Terrible thing to happen and at the moment we're very concerned about the welfare of the riders and the spectator,'' BIM's Rik McCaig said.
"Not a very nice thing to happen, but we will consult the riders to see of the possibility of a reduced-lap race."
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.