Since the start of the competitions, an Olympic luck has accompanied the cyclists of the Netherlands, from Annemiek Van Vleuten (women's road race) to Mathieu Van der Poel (MTB), including Niek Kimmann (BMX) and Anna Van der Breggen (women's chrono).
Latest incident to date, the mishap that occurred in van der Breggen on Tuesday.
The reigning world champion in the chrono - bronze medalist in the specialty in Rio - was doing a reconnaissance of the course on Wednesday (4:30 am French time) with her teammate Annemiek van Vleuten on the circuit at the Fuji Speedway circuit, when she was thrown off the bike by Japanese officials who did not recognize the champions.
“Everyone had to stop because of an organizer's error,” testified a Japanese spectator on the Dutch site WielerFlits.
And in the confusion with the guards, Anna was threatened and knocked down… ”
Incident not serious however.
Van der Breggen simply lost his balance and got up immediately, unharmed.
She suffered no injuries and the two athletes were able to resume their journey after the officials apologized.
New problem for the Dutch delegation: Anna van der Breggen fell during the recognition of the time of the Olympics of # Tokyo2020.
A Japanese official is at the origin of the fall, not having recognized the athlete, who is not injured.
https://t.co/UThRvM98PT
- The Gruppetto (@LeGruppetto) July 27, 2021
The curse on the “Oranje” had started with confusion already, during the women's road race on Sunday.
By crossing the finish line, Van Vleuten indeed celebrated her victory when she finished only 2nd.
In a disputed race without earbuds, the Batavian was unaware that Austria's Anna Kiesenhofer had won for good almost 1′15 ′ 'earlier.
🚴 Austria's Kiesenhofer seizes gold to everyone's surprise.
Van Vleuten takes the money and lets his joy explode.
In a race without an earpiece, the Dutchwoman thought she was in the lead ... # Tokyo2020 #JeuxOlympiques pic.twitter.com/K6uVBnY7sw
- France tv sport (@francetvsport) July 25, 2021
“I was wrong, I did not know that there was still a competitor in front, will plead the European champion afterwards.
When the Polish (Editor's note: Plichta) and the Israeli (Editor's note: Shapira) were caught up, I thought we were driving for gold.
I thought I won.
At first I felt very stupid ... "
With the shame dispelled, Van Vleuten consoled herself as best she could with the silver, her first Olympic medal.
So this is what happened today.
💣 Hit an official that wanted to cross the 2nd straight.
Hope the official is OK My knee is sore, but will do my best to be ready for Thursday!
Thanks everyone for the messages, appreciate it!
❤️ pic.twitter.com/QOdJ2r0usT
- Niek Kimmann (@niekkimmann) July 26, 2021
More painful, the incident experienced by Kimmann, the BMX race specialist on Monday morning.
In training, while accelerating in the middle of the straight line, the athlete collided
an official crossing the track.
The two men got up but the Dutchman cracked his kneecap in the accident.
“My knee is sore but I'll do my best to be ready on Thursday,” the 2015 world champion said on Twitter, referring to his upcoming quarter-final.
However, the prize certainly goes to the most French of the Dutch, Mathieu Van der Poel.
The grandson of the late Raymond Poulidor was able to marry negligence and bad luck beautifully to get through the mountain bike event of which he was the overwhelming favorite on Monday, after having left the Tour de France prematurely, specifically for this purpose.
From the first lap, Van der Poel badly negotiated the reception of a jump over a rock, the Sakura Drop, deceived by the absence of the board which was below during training. The recent wearer of the yellow jersey achieved an impressive sun and miraculously recovered without much damage, before leaving and then giving up, behind. But for not having bothered to participate in the test-event in 2019, then in the last recognition the day before, Van der Poel, 26, gave his hopes of Olympic gold in Paris 2024.
