Dutch cyclist Laurine van Riessen knocked out and taken to hospital after horror crash

Dutch cyclist Laurine van Riessen was knocked out and taken to hospital after a horror crash with Team GB's Katie Marchant in the velodrome in Tokyo.

It ruled both riders out of medal contention and left Van Riessen needing to be carried out of the arena on a stretcher.

The BBC reported Van Riessen the incident had left Van Riessen unconscious, but she came round before leaving the velodrome.

Marchant was getting ready to make her move on the penultimate lap when she was clattered into by her Dutch rival.

It appeared Van Riessen was spooked by a move from Hong Kong's Sze Wai Lee causing her to veer into Marchant.

Both riders were left in a heap on the ground, but while Marchant quickly regained her feet, Van Riessen was left needing extensive medical treatment.

Marchant reacted in admirably understanding fashion, saying: "I’m alright - it’s just not my day, is it? I’m not really sure what happened.

“They were fighting on the inside and suddenly Laurine came down in front of me. I had nowhere to go but that’s bike racing.

“I’m just a little bit battered and bruised but I’m all right. I’m fine for the sprint.

“I needed to finish the race in case there was something that came up on the results, a relegation or anything.

“I'm not really sure what happened, wrong place, wrong time, I just got caught up in it.

“I'll be back tomorrow to start the sprint competition.”

“I’m just a little bit battered and bruised but I’m all right. I’m fine for the sprint.

“I needed to finish the race in case there was something that came up on the results, a relegation or anything.

“I'm not really sure what happened, wrong place, wrong time, I just got caught up in it.

“I'll be back tomorrow to start the sprint competition.” 

Reference: Mirror: James Whaling