The Americans hit the velodrome for the first time at the 2024 Paris Games when the U.S. women’s team pursuit squad raced in the qualifying round. After finishing second in qualifying. with a time of 4:05.238, they look like a strong contender for a fourth straight medal.
On the men’s side, two disciplines competed in the team pursuit first round matchups and the men’s team sprint finals. The Netherlands dominated the men's team sprint, their time of 40.949 set a new world and Olympic record and was the only time under 41 seconds.
Women’s team pursuit
Qualification results
FULL RESULTS
It was a fast day on the track. Eight of the ten teams competing in the qualifying round of the women's team pursuit set a national record.
This year's United States squad features Kristen Faulkner, Chloe Dygert, Jennifer Valente and Lily Williams. The Americans have never finished off the podium at the Olympics in the women’s team pursuit since it debuted in 2012.
The U.S. didn’t let a sloppy start slow it down. Their time of 4:05.238 was good enough for a national record and for second overall on the day.
New Zealand finished with the top overall time of 4:04.679, while another expected medal contender, Great Britain, rounded out the top three between New Zealand and the U.S. The final rounds will be Wednesday August 7th, starting at 11:30 a.m. ET.
New Zealand's Bryony Botha said the team is just taking it one step at a time. "We are trying to be realistic and just follow our own process. It seems to be paying off. So we have to keep doing what we are doing as a team. Day by day, lap by lap."
Defending Olympic champion Germany surprised everyone with a slow qualifying round. Despite having three of four riders returning from the Tokyo Games, the Germans finished in fifth with a time of 4:08.313, which means they will not have an opportunity to contend for a gold medal in Paris.
First round matchups:
New Zealand vs. Italy
United States vs. Great Britain
Germany vs. Canada
Australia vs. France
Men’s team sprint
Gold medal final
For the men's team sprint, the gold medal race featured the defending champion Netherlands against Great Britain. The Dutch had a slight lead at the 250m mark and were never challenged by Great Britain, finishing with a time of 40.949 and breaking the world record they had set earlier in the day. It was an impressive ride from Roy van den Berg, Harrie Lavreysen and Jeffry Hoogland in claiming gold for the Netherlands. Great Britain was left with silver after posting a time of 41.814.
After the race, Lavreysen commented on the world record: "When I crossed the line after two laps, I was searching for the time (on the scoreboard), and I saw the 28.8. That was a record for the two of us [van den Berg and himself), and I knew Jeff [Hoogland] was under me, so I knew it was going to be crazy. I was already smiling on my bike before he finished, and then I saw the under 41 (seconds) time. That was crazy."
Van den Berg chimed in: "We were ready. Achieving this as a team is amazing."
FULL RESULTS
Bronze medal final
In the bronze medal race, France faced Australia. This time there was no false start for France, which had committed two false starts in their first-round race. They led until the final lap of the race, when Australia played villain to the home crowd and pulled ahead for the bronze medal with a time of 41.597. The bronze is Australia’s first medal in the event in 24 years. While disappointed, France did put down their fastest time of the Games at 41.993.
Australia's Matthew Gletzer was happy to finish his Olympic career with a bronze medal. "I definitely will not be around for the next Olympics (Los Angeles 2028) but to finish my Olympic campaign with a bronze medal is pretty special. To bring it home and win the bronze final is special."
Placement race results
China and Canadastarted the final men’s team sprint races of the Games. China came out fast with the advantage in the first 250m. They led end-to-end for an easy seventh place finish and finished over a second faster than Canada. China’s time of 42.532 was their fastest in Paris.
Germanyand Japan faced off in the race for fifth place. Japan flew out of the starting block behind Nagasako Yosh*taku. It was close but Japan finished first with their fastest time of 42.078. The Germans had a faster first round ride and leaves Paris with the sixth-place finish.
FULL RESULTS
Men’s team pursuit
First round results
Unlike the team sprint, losers in the men’s team pursuit can still qualify for the bronze medal race if they finish with the third or fourth fastest times on the round. The two fastest winners of the first round advance to the gold medal race on Wednesday.
In the closest race of the day, Great Britain snatched the win over Denmark by seven tenths of a second to guarantee a spot in the gold medal race. No other race finished closer than two seconds.
Australia set a world and Olympic record against Italy with a time of 3:40.730. They obliterated the record that was nearly two seconds slower that was set by Italy at the Tokyo Games.
The quartet of Oliver Bleddyn, Sam Welsford, Conor Leahy and Kelland O'Brien clocked will ride against Britain for gold in Wednesday's final.
"It was pretty special to go to 40, I think we knew we were going to be quick but we didn't realize we were going that quick," Welsford, whose quartet destroyed reigning champions Italy, told reporters.
The gold medal race will be between Great Britain and Australia. Denmark will face Italy in the bronze medal race. France will face New Zealand for fifth place while Belgium will face Canada for seventh place. The men’s team pursuit races will start at 12:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
FULL RESULTS
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