Concern for French cyclist after 'brutal' crash in mountain biking

A French mountain biker has appeared to be seriously injured in a nasty crash during the women's cross-country race.

Loana Lecomte, one of the pre-race favourites, was sitting in the bronze medal place when she went over her handlebars coming down the rock cascade.

She didn't move after hitting the ground, although cameras quickly cut away from her.

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"That was a brutal crash for Loana Lecomte," Scott McGrory said on commentary.

"Over the handlebars, down the rock cascade. She was very slow to move. Hopefully she is going to be OK."

Speaking from the venue, Sophie Smith said Lecomte had been taken off the course and was conscious, but is set to be hospitalised.

"From what I understand, Leona has been taken off the course, we don't understand the full extent of her injuries," Smith said. 

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"I have been told by sources that she was conscious, but she's been removed from the course and is being treated at the infirmary here and is planning on being taken to hospital."

The exact nature and severity of her injuries, though, remains unknown.

Lecomte had been one of the heavy favourites for the race, and had been raucously backed by the local crowd as she made her way up to third before her crash.

"She was one of the big favourites coming in," Smith said.

"There were a lot of French spectators here to see her and Pauline (Ferrand Prevot, who won gold) today.

"The hopes were that they were going to go one-two on the podium.

"The French fans... every time they were coming through on those earlier laps, you could hear how the decibels went up."