A frightening incident derailed several racers in one of the final cycling stages of the 2024 Olympics.
During the women’s keirin quarterfinals on Thursday, the Netherlands’ Steffie van der Peet fell off her bike and into the wheel of Belgium’s Nicky Degrendele, who attempted to steer to stabilize herself but also tumbled.
China’s Yuan Liying simultaneously spilled and was nearly rammed into by the back wheel of Degrendele’s bike.
The frightening scene also featured bike scraps flying into the air and hurtling toward van der Peet, who skidded off to the side of the track.
Degrendele and Yuan were both scattered on the ground after colliding. AFP via Getty Images Steffie van der Peet (R) and China’s Yuan Liying crash in a women’s track cycling keirin event on Aug. 8, 2024. AFP via Getty Images Steffie van der Peet of Team Netherlands looks on following the crash. Getty Images
Thankfully, all three cyclists were deemed okay after being assessed by medical professionals on the premises.
What made the moment even more dire was that the average speed of the three bikers in Heat 1 was 65.017 kilometers per hour, equivalent to over 40 miles per hour.
Despite the mishap, Degrendele and van der Peet both qualified for the semifinals, finishing with times of +0.070 and +0.127, respectively.
Belgium’s Nicky Degrendele receives assistance after suffering a crash during the women’s track cycling keirin. AFP via Getty Images China’s Yuan Liying reacts after a crash in a women’s track cycling keirin quarterfinal during the Paris Olympics. AFP via Getty Images
The pair were joined by Germany’s Lea Friedrich and New Zealand’s Ellesse Andrews.
All four raced again under an hour later from the National Velodrome.
Andrews was the only one of the group to qualify for a shot at gold, along with Mexico’s Daniela Gaxiola Gonzalez, Great Britain’s Emma Finucane, the Netherlands’ Hetty van de Wouw, Great Britain’s Katy Marchant and Germany’s Emma Hinze.
Yuan Liying of China is assisted after crashing during the women’s keirin event on Aug. 8, 2024. AP
Racing under an hour after a traumatic crash, van der Peet ended fourth in her heat with a +0.161 time — just .004 seconds behind Finucane for a chance at gold — while Degrendele also slotted in at fourth in her heat with a +0.114 time.
In the eventual gold medal race, Andrews won gold, with van de Wouw in silver and Finucane finishing with bronze.
The victory marked an improvement for Andrews, who ended the keirin finals with silver in the Tokyo Games three years ago.
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