Mia Griffin returns to Ireland after sprint crash in Belgium | Video

Mia Griffin, the rider on the far right against the barriers, is brought down by another rider leaning into her, causing this major pile-up

Mia Griffin, the Irish road and track international, has returned home to Ireland from Europe to recover after a nasty crash during the bunch sprint at Cyclis Classic (1.2) in Belgium on Wednesday.

The Kilkenny woman looked on course for a top result as she picked her line on the left side of the bunch in the sprint for 3rd place. However, one of the riders to her right leaned in on her, then lost her balance and brought Griffin down.

That incident along the barriers, as it was at such high speed, then caused a massive pile-up right across the road, with some of the riders hitting the deck very hard.

Though Griffin looked a little stunned, naturally, she landed on the road in a seated position. just before the line. Thankfully medical checks after the race confirmed she had suffered no broke bones.

However, her DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK team mate, Robyn Clay, was not as fortunate as she suffered a broken collarbone which will require surgery.

The team told stickybottle Griffin had returned home to Ireland to recover as a precaution, though added she had walked away uninjured.

"She's doing great, she has been checked over and has gone home as a precaution," the team said, adding there was "nothing serious" for the rider to be concerned about.

"But we are just being very careful in line with concussion protocols. Will see how she is over the coming days/weeks, but will hopefully have her back on the start line soon."

Griffin's team mate, Alice Sharpe, was also in the race and finished 11th. Lara Gillespie (UAE Development Team) took 2nd in the bunch sprint, finishing 4th in the race, as two breakaway riders were up the road.

The presence of the three Ireland team pursuit riders fighting at the front is a great sign towards the Olympics. And though Griffin was denied a top result, as she was at the front when the crash happened, the fact she suffered no broken bones is fortunate, despite that heavy fall.