Tokyo Olympics: BMX racer Niek Kimmann in race against time to be fit for Thursday after crash

BMX racer Niek Kimmann in race against time to be fit for Tokyo Olympics quarter-final heats on Thursday after Dutchman injures knee following collision with OFFICIAL in practice session

Olympic BMX racer Niek Kimmann is in a race against time to be fit for the start of the men’s event at the Tokyo Games after colliding with an official during a practice session on Monday.

The former world champion was getting to know and adapting to the circuit ahead of the start of the competition in the quarter-final heats at this summer’s Olympics on Thursday.

But his preparation ahead of the heats in Japan later this week took a huge hit when – travelling at full pelt – the 25-year-old crashed into a marshall crossing the track at the same time as he was zooming past in the middle of the session.  

Olympic BMX racer Niek Kimmann is in a race against time to be fit after colliding with an official

The former world champion was adapting to the circuit ahead of Thursday's quarter-final heats

The former world champion was adapting to the circuit ahead of Thursday’s quarter-final heats

The official appeared unaware that the Dutchman was coming his way at such speed and Kimmann could do little to avoid crashing into him and hurting his knee. 

Kimmann then confirmed his knee was still sore when posting about the incident on social media with footage of the crash.

‘So this is what happened today,’ he posted. ‘Hit an official that wanted to cross the 2nd straight. Hope the official is O.K.

‘My knee is sore, but will do my best to be ready for Thursday! Thanks everyone for the messages, appreciate it!’

The official appeared unaware that the Dutchman was coming his way at such speed

The official appeared unaware that the Dutchman was coming his way at such speed

Kimmann then confirmed his knee was still sore when posting about the incident on social media

Kimmann then confirmed his knee was still sore when posting about the incident on social media

Kimmann’s collision came as the latest in a tough few days for his cycling compatriots in Tokyo.

On Monday morning, Mathieu van der Poel suffered a crash in the early part of the mountain bike event and had to abandon the competition won by Team GB’s Tom Pidcock.

Van der Poel was left fuming after claiming a ramp at the part of the course where he fell – known as the Sakura Drop – had been removed since he had practiced going around the course.

He tweeted: ‘I didn’t know. The ramp was there during the recon. I only heard they removed it during the test event.’ 

Stream every unmissable moment of Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 live on discovery+, The Streaming Home of the Olympics. Discovery+

Countryman Mathieu van der Poel suffered a crash in the early part of the mountain bike event

Countryman Mathieu van der Poel suffered a crash in the early part of the mountain bike event

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk