Opie finished sixth in the Youth Olympic Games in 2003

Cornish cyclist Chris Opie is back in training after suffering a high speed crash at the Hillingdon Grand Prix.

Olympic hopeful Opie went over his handle bars at 70kmph at the event near London last month.

Opie told BBC Radio Cornwall: "I was sprinting for fourth place and I guess I touched someone's back wheel and face-planted myself onto the tarmac.

"I never realised how bad head injuries could be, my helmet took quite a bashing," the 21-year-old added.

Opie, who grew up on the outskirts of Truro, has been training in Holland since 2008.

A place at London 2012 is Opie's ultimate goal and despite his recent crash, he feels he is well placed to achieve it.

"When I came back to England last month, I realised that my form was quite good compared to riders that have been to the Olympics before," he said.

"So I think long term if things stop going wrong the progression of my Olympic plan is going quite well."

Opie is no stranger to international competition, finishing sixth out of 96 riders at the Youth Olympic Games in 2003.

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