MANNING Cycle Club member Janelle Small was transported to the John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle by helicopter following an accident that saw five riders fall in the club's race conducted at Upper Lansdowne on Saturday.
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Small sustained serious facial injuries and underwent surgery on Monday.
Another rider, Noel Mathiske was taken to Port Macquarie Hospital after breaking ribs. He was riding in the race held in memory of his wife, Lyn.
It's understood one other rider sustained a broken collarbone.
"It was carnage,'' a club committee member said.
The group was racing at speed down a hill when the incident occurred.
"It was like a domino effect,'' the committee member said.
"One rider went down and the rest followed.''
This is the first time the rescue helicopter had been called by the club, with the accident described as one of the worst in the club's history. Three ambulances also attended.
A highway patrol car was in the vicinity and was quickly on the scene to assist club officials.
A number of club juniors had only just overtaken the group before the accident. They went onto finish the race. Kobi Mathiske - Lyn's grandson - was the winner.
