"I felt like a crash-test dummy" - Big controversy on the track at Paris 2024 after Jan-Willem van Schip is DQ'd for headbutt to Oliver Wood

In a crash-marred Madison at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, the hopes of Team GB came to a crashing halt as Netherlands' Jan-Willem van Schip and Oliver Wood came together, with the latter sent flying off the track as a result.

In the end, it was a blow for both riders as whilst Wood's medal hopes had come to a crashing halt, Van Schip was disqualified and fined for his headbutt to the Brit that brought upon the crash. “He hit me so hard, I felt like a crash-test dummy,” Wood said afterwards. “It’s not my first crash – just a bit different when you get hit from behind, you don’t see it coming. Instead of taking a high line around the track, I thought he’d cut it a bit fine and just ploughed into me."

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“I’m trying to catch my breath. I have no clue, absolutely no clue what happened," continued the disorientated crash victim. "All I know is I got hit really hard, from behind, by literally the biggest rider on the track. When there are people all over the track, it is inevitable that people are going to collide wheels or whatever.”

After the race, an official announcement from the Olympic committee stated: "Following the review of an incident during the Men's Madison, Team 6; Netherlands, have been disqualified under article 1.10,008 point 8.1." The rule states that cyclists shouldn't endanger each other, which could lead to a team's disqualification if the rule is broken.

“I don’t know what I have done but my knee really hurts and my arse really hurts. But I am alright, I will survive. I will live to fight another day,” Wood added, admitting his medal were already slim by that point. “In that scenario, we were out of the race. There is no point raising anything.”

See the incident for yourself down below and make up your own mind!

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