TEAM GB cyclist Charlie Tanfield was involved in a high-speed smash that saw him crash out of his Olympic debut in dramatic fashion in Izu. And angry Danish rider Frederik Madsen who smashed into the back of him during the men’s team pursuit got up and screamed ‘f*** them’. Tanfield dropped badly off the wheels […]
TEAM GB cyclist Charlie Tanfield was involved in a high-speed smash that saw him crash out of his Olympic debut in dramatic fashion in Izu.
And angry Danish rider Frederik Madsen who smashed into the back of him during the men’s team pursuit got up and screamed ‘f*** them’.
Tanfield dropped badly off the wheels of his team-mates as the Danes, seemingly on course for a world record, reeled him in.
But with just 500m to go, Danish front man Madsen ploughed into the back of the Brit, sending both crashing to the ground.
The Dane was not looking where he was riding as the high speed collision occurred and his actions sent both men flying and then skidding for tens of metres at the velodrome.
And despite Sir Chris Hoy blaming Madsen for the smash, the Denmark man was in no mood for apologising.
He was seen storming off the track and screaming: “F*** them.”
And an altercation between the Brits and the Danish team followed.
It remains unclear whether GB will be in tomorrow’s final – or out of medal contention altogether.
Tanfield eventually remounted to finish the race.
That meant GB ‘won’ the heat and, potentially, made the final – where they would face Italy.
But the Danes claimed they had heard the gun finishing the contest because they had caught the opposition team before the accident.
It left utter confusion with nobody knowing which side would progress.
Former Olympic champ Chris Boardman suggested the Danes would be handed the heat but Hoy and Sir Bradley Wiggins believed the Brit, who finished, would go through.
It all came after some old-fashioned mind games by GB after the loss of Ed Clancy.
The three-time Olympic champion, 36, blamed himself for the team’s ‘ragged’ display in qualifying which left them fourth fastest and facing the world champion Danes.
Clancy withdrew for the event and announced his retirement at the same time.
But GB performance director Stephen Park launched an official protest, claiming the tape all four Danish riders had on their shins in the qualifying round was ‘illegal’ and should lead to disqualification.
That argument was rejected by Games chiefs but the Danes were ordered not to repeat the tape-wearing in their first round heat.
But perhaps that explains why the Danes then lost their heads when they were romping to victory.
Tanfield was only participating in the event because leader Clancy withdrew.
Clancy, 36, came to Tokyo seeking a fourth successive pursuit gold.
But now GB chiefs have confirmed Clancy is out of the rest of the Olympics due to an ‘ongoing back and sciatica issue’.
Clancy said: “I’m absolutely gutted that my Olympic career has ended this way, but it would be unfair of me to try to carry on now I have aggravated my back injury.
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Extraordinary scenes in the men's team pursuit on the track.
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 3, 2021
The front rider in the Danish team smashes straight into Charlie Tanfield – who was a last minute addition to the #TeamGB quartet after Ed Clancy withdrew earlier today.
Followhttps://t.co/pj60RkMuGr #bbcolympics pic.twitter.com/vDKn3iu5Nq
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“Ultimately, I want the rest of the lads to build on the hard work we have done over the past year and a half and give them the best possible chance of making it on to the podium.
“I will be supporting them all the way.”
Tanfield replaced Clancy alongside Ethan Hayter, Ethan Vernon and Ollie Wood.
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