A bizarre crash prematurely ended heat four of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games men's team pursuit between Denmark and Great Britain, with two riders hitting the deck in the closing kilometre of the event.
Denmark had bossed the race against GB, over two seconds ahead at the 3000m mark and on course to meet Italy in the gold medal final.
>>> Tokyo 2020 Olympics track cycling LIVE: Live updates from day two
Such were GB's struggles that the late replacement for the injured Ed Clancy, Charlie Tanfield, had been dropped by his two remaining team-mates and he was forced to chase on. The time is taken on the third rider across the line and GB were already down to three riders before Tanfield was dropped.
As he was chasing on the Danish team were quickly closing in on him as they chased a place in the final.
But their leading rider Frederik Madsen had his head tucked down and clearly didn't see the solo GB rider in front of him and ploughed straight into the rear of Tanfield, taking them both down.
Madsen, presumably thinking Tanfield was GB's fourth rider and that he hadn't moved up the track and out the way, immediately issued an angry response to the British rider, who was able to get back on his bike but looked in some pain.
Despite the incident, Denmark will progress to the men's team pursuit final against Italy on Wednesday. The UCI confirmed that the Danes would compete for the gold medal, meaning the race commissaries deemed that the Danes made the catch against GB despite the crash.
Team pursuit rules state that a catch is made by a team of three when they are within one metre of the other team's last rider, which Denmark did before the crash.
They will now face a strong Italian team in the final on Thursday. Italy rode to a sensational new world record of 3:42.307 in their heat against New Zealand, beating the record set by Denmark at the World Championships in 2020.
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
-
-
POC Ventral Tempus MIPS Review - A helmet for riding in the rain, and being seen
Bright, light and comfortable, but not cheap
-
British cyclist treated a sick goat before medalling at national championships
Veterinary student Phoebe Barker was asked to lend a hand on the farm where she was staying before her race
-
Sarah Storey claims 17th gold medal with road race victory in Tokyo
She becomes Britain's most successful Paralympian of all-time
-
British husband and wife take cycling gold at Tokyo Paralympics in final medal flurry for GB
The medals came pouring in for GB on the final day of track cycling in Tokyo
-
17 of the best pictures from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics
Some of the best shots from the most memorable moments in Japan
-
British Cycling announces plans to grow BMX freestyle after Tokyo, including national competition structure
The hope is to produce future medallists after the success of British freestylers in Japan
-
Laura Kenny finishes sixth in 'nightmare' Omnium
The Brit says it was already 'job done' after winning the Madison earlier in the week
-
'It was just too big an opportunity': Jason Kenny had nothing to lose in Keirin final before coming up with Olympic Gold
“Literally just before we rode off, I didn’t want to be on the front and I said to my coach, ‘if they leave the gap, should I just go?’"
-
Jason Kenny wins seventh Olympic gold as he steals away to take Keirin title in Tokyo
The Brit put in an audacious attack, sprinting clear with three laps to go
-
Tokyo 2020 Olympics track cycling LIVE: Follow all the action from day six
Live updates from the sprints, Keirin and Madison at the Izu Velodrome
