Nail-biting battle for bronze features literal clash in contest riddled with controversy
Crowds at Vélodrome National de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines were treated to dramatic scenes in a nail-biting battle for bronze that included a literal clash between rivals.
Team Great Britain's Jack Carlin ultimately came out on top in the best-of-three men's track cycling sprint, beating the Netherlands' Jeffrey Hoogland by 0.041 in an epic decider round – but not before crashing into him.
It was a contest riddled with controversy, as Carlin was already going into the three-set race on a yellow card after a crash in the earlier rounds.
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Carlin beat Hoogland by 0.017 in the first round, but Hoogland wasn't taking it lying down, clawing back with a monumental effort to secure an equaliser in the second round, beating Carlin by 0.049.
Jack Carlin and Jeffrey Hoogland had a dramatic collision in their epic decider. AP
But Hoogland's victory was short-lived.
Two hours after they first faced off on Saturday morning AEST, disaster struck in the third round as Carlin collided with Hoogland with two laps to go.
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The race immediately paused as judges scrambled to decide if it could proceed, with Carlin – who held his head in his hands after the crash – visibly taking a few deep breaths to re-orient himself when they gave him the all-clear to proceed.
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Carlin and Hoogland then had to take their spots at the start line once again, re-riding the whole race with Carlin in the lead the whole time.
Although it looked like Hoogland was gaining momentum, Carlin ultimately held on and won an unlikely bronze in the tight final lap.
Australia's Matthew Richardson settled for silver after being taken down by defending champion Harrie Lavreysen, who successfully secured his second gold medal in the event after crossing the finish line first back-to-back.
Australia's Matthew Richardson secured silver in the event. Getty
Before the do-or-die race, only three men in the history of the event had successfully defended their title.
Lavreysen was aiming to become the fourth – and the Dutchman succeeded in his mission.
