The stunning equipment failure that sent Olympic track cyclist Alex Porter face-planting onto the Olympic velodrome boards will come under AusCycling investigation.
Melbourne-based company Bastion Cycles, which supplies components to the Australian cycling team, has confirmed one of its handlebar units caused the crash.
"Our team is working with the Australian Olympic Team to understand the cause behind the failure of one of our handlebar units," the company said in an Instagram post.
"We give our assurances that we are using all means available to investigate why this occurred."
Porter was left with friction burns on his nose, chin and arms after the integrated handlebar and stem of his high-tech bike snapped off at 65km/h, sending him sprawling onto the wooden track.
"I've just basically lost skin down the centre of my face (and) I've got a pretty severe burn on my forearm," Porter told the Seven Network.
Porter also suffered cuts on his left and right groins, as well as skin off his hips and knees and a chunk of skin off of a knuckle.
"But luckily nothing is broken," he said.
The debacle ultimately cost Australia the chance to compete for the team pursuit gold medal.
Australia won its heat on Tuesday, with Luke Plapp replacing Porter, and will ride off against New Zealand on Wednesday for bronze.
"Last night's incident in the heats of the men's team pursuit was both a shock and disappointment for all involved in the Olympic program and for cycling fans across Australia," AusCycling said in a statement.
"While the immediate focus is on the success of the Australian cycling team across the remainder of the Olympic program, there will be a thorough investigation and review of the factors involved in the incident."
The crash happened just after a kilometre into the Australian team pursuiters' 4000m qualifying ride on Monday night at Izu Velodrome.
The Australians were doubly lucky that Porter somehow escaped more serious injury and that he was at the rear of their four-man paceline when the freak incident happened.
The pursuiters regularly rotate positions and had any teammates been behind him when he crashed, they would have gone down as well.
Australia were given a re-start and Porter showed great courage to ride again half an hour later.
AusCycling called their re-start performance "inspirational and courageous".
But Australia qualified fifth-fastest and only the top four nations can be in contention for the gold medal.
Adding insult to injury, without the crash there is little doubt that Australia would have qualified faster than fourth-placed Great Britain, their team pursuit arch-rivals.
Each team pursuit bike is worth more than $10,000 and the Australians source theirs from manufacturer Argon 18.
AusCycling confirmed that the part responsible for Porter's crash was not manufactured by Argon 18.
AusCycling added it would not make no comment until the investigation is complete.
Australian Associated Press
