Instant Expert Guide To The Races

It’s fast, furious and, to the non-initiated, a little confusing. Here CW takes you through the Olympic track disciplines

- Vern Pitt

TEAM SPRINT

What is it?

A fast and furious chase. On each side of the track three riders from the same team start together. After one lap the first rider pulls off, then the second after the second lap then the last rider finishes alone. The fastest team wins.

How does the tournament work?

All nine teams set a qualifying time with the eight fastest going through. In the first round they’re then seeded and ride against each other (first in qualifying against eighth etc), the four winners go through to the medal ride-offs with the two fastest in the first round contesting gold.

Who’s going to win?

For the men the clear favourites are the Dutch. They dominated at the 2020 World Championships winning not only the team sprint but members of that team also won the keirin and the individual sprint too.

In the women’s sprint the injury and subsequent enforced retirement of German powerhouse Kristina Vogel opened up something of a power vacuum which 23-year-old Emma Hinze has done a fine job of stepping into. She led the team to gold at the last World Champs and picked up the keirin and sprint titles too.

Who could cause an upset?

The British men’s trio has been getting closer with every passing year and in Ryan Owens has one of the fastest opening men on the scene and Jason Kenny too.