Team GB Olympic cyclist 'headbutted' off track in horror crash that denies him medal

British cyclist Oliver Wood's Olympic medal hopes in the men's event were dashed due to a horrifying crash . The 28-year-old Brit was taken down by a Dutch rider who appeared to lead with his head as he crashed into Wood.

This unfortunate incident cost Team GB a spot on the podium, resulting in Wood and his teammate Mark Stewart finishing in a disappointing 12th place. With 40 laps still to go, Dutchman Jan-Willem van Schip attempted to overtake Wood on the right side.

However, as he passed, Van Schip seemed to cut Wood off and then unbalanced him with his head .

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Given the high speeds at which the riders were moving, even a minor knock can be enough to throw them off their bikes. Wood hit the ground hard, while Van Schip managed to avoid any penalty as he continued riding.

Meanwhile, the Team GB athlete was left lying on the floor before he eventually got up and rejoined the race. Although he managed to get back on his bike, Wood struggled to regain his form, leaving Stewart to do most of the work.

Despite their efforts, they couldn't recover, finishing far from the medal positions, while the Netherlands ended up seventh. Portugal won the gold, Italy came second, and Denmark took bronze.

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While Wood would have been disappointed to miss out, he still leaves Paris with a silver medal from his efforts in the Team Pursuit. Fans were outraged on his behalf, with many feeling he was robbed of another medal.

One viewer was left scratching their head, tweeting: "Did our guy just get head-butted out of the Madison by the Netherlands? " Another was equally perplexed, posting online: "Didn't know headbutts were allowed in cycling? How can the Netherlands get away with that manoeuvre?:

The bewilderment didn't stop there, with another fan asking on social media: "That looks deliberate from the Dutch rider there?"

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Cycling great Sir Chris Hoy expressed serious concern for GB cyclist Ollie Woods after a nasty tumble. Chatting with BBC Sport, he said: "I wouldn't be surprised if Ollie Wood was concussed from that. He wouldn't be expecting it either. His body would be loose. He would be relaxed and then getting this massive hit - I really felt for him there."

Before the race even began, Team GB had to deal with a setback when Ethan Hayter pulled out of the men's Madison due to an injury picked up earlier in the week.

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In a stroke of good fortune, Mark Stewart was ready to fill the gap alongside Ollie Wood. Team GB announced the lineup change, stating: "Ethan Hayter has withdrawn from the men's Madison event due to a thigh muscle strain sustained during Wednesday's team pursuit final. We thank Ethan for his contribution to the team and wish him a speedy recovery. Mark Stewart will now ride alongside Ollie Wood in this afternoon's Madison."