Published August 3, 2021 02:55AM
Olympic drama as Denmark collides with Great Britain rider in Team Pursuit
Danish squad ruled as winners after heat was marred by collision with a distanced GB rider, will race Italy for gold medal Wednesday.
IZU, JAPAN - AUGUST 03: (L-R) Frederik Madsen of Team Denmark and Charlie Tanfield of Team Great Britain on the ground after fall during the Men´s team pursuit first round, heat 4 of the Track Cycling on day eleven of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Izu Velodrome on August 03, 2021 in Izu, Japan. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
There was even more drama than usual at the Olympic Team Pursuit on Tuesday.
The heat between Great Britain and Denmark was marred by a crash, chaos and confusion when the Danish train rode into the back of the distanced British rider, Charlie Tanfield.
Frederik Madsen was leading a charging Danish team to what looked like a convincing victory when he plowed into the back of Tanfield. Tanfield had been dropped from the British unit, however, as the team’s third man, he was still required to complete the race.
With neither team completing the four-kilometer heat, the Games fell into anger and confusion as race officials hesitated in confirming who would go through to the gold medal final Wednesday.
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There was a delay of nearly one hour before it was confirmed that Denmark would advance to compete for gold on the basis that it had caught Great Britain and thus was the outright winner.
“A team is caught when the opposing team (at least 3 riders riding together) arrives at or within a distance of one meter of it,” states UCI regulation 3.2.081.
Team GB has not indicated that it will appeal the decision.