Olympic sprint

The Olympic Sprint (also sometimes known as the team sprint) is a track cycling event. Despite its name it is not a conventional cycling sprint event - it is a three-man team time trial held over three laps of a velodrome.

It was first introduced into championship racing in 1996.

Like the team pursuit event, two teams race against each other, starting on opposite sides of the track. At the end of the first lap, the leading rider in each team pulls up the banking leaving the second rider to lead for the next lap; at the end of the second lap, the second rider does the same, leaving the third rider to complete the last lap on his own. The team with the fastest time is the winner.

The third rider needs good endurance qualities to maintain high speed to the finish. Kilometre track time trial specialists are usually chosen for this role.