The men's sprint event was part of the track cycling programme

Cycling at the 1920 Summer Olympics

The cycling competitions at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp consisted of two road racing events and four track racing events, all for men only. The 50 km track event was held for the first time at these Games.-Road cycling:-Track cycling:...

 at the 1920 Summer Olympics

1920 Summer Olympics

The 1920 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event in 1920 in Antwerp, Belgium....

.

One day before the Olympic tournament, Peeters had become amateur world champion in track cycling. One day later he rode the Olympic 1000 m sprint, and of course he was considered a favourite. He lost in the first round, but his second place was enough to progress to the next round. He then won the quarter final and the semi-final. In the final, he rode against two British cyclists, Harry Ryan

Harry Ryan

Harry Edgar Ryan was a British track cycling racer. Ryan came second in the world amateur sprint championship in 1913., he also competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics and won the gold medal in the tandem competition together with his partner Thomas Lance as well as the bronze medal in the...

 and Tiny Johnson. They tried to make use of their numerical advantage, and Ryan attacked, so that Peeters had to get him back. In the final corner, Johnson should came around the corner to win the race, but Peeters was ahead and kept his lead.

Heats

Heat 1

Place	Cyclist	Time	Qual.
1		13.2	Q
2			Q
3

Heat 2

Place	Cyclist	Time	Qual.
1		13.2	Q
2			Q
3

Heat 3

Place	Cyclist	Time	Qual.
1		13.2	Q
2			Q
3

Heat 4

Place	Cyclist	Time	Qual.
1		13.2	Q
2			Q
3

Heat 5

Place	Cyclist	Time	Qual.
1		13.2	Q
2			Q
3

Heat 6

Place	Cyclist	Time	Qual.
1		12.6	Q
2			Q
3

Heat 7

Place	Cyclist	Time	Qual.
1		13.6	Q
2			Q
3

Heat 8

Place	Cyclist	Time	Qual.
1		13.6	Q
2			Q
3
4

Heat 9

Place	Cyclist	Time	Qual.
1		13.0	Q
2			Q
3

Heat 10

Place	Cyclist	Time	Qual.
1		13.2	Q
2			Q
3

Heat 11

Place	Cyclist	Time	Qual.
1		13.2	Q
2			Q
3

Heat 12

Place	Cyclist	Time	Qual.
1		12.6	Q
2			Q
3

Quarterfinals

Quarterfinal 1

Place	Cyclist	Time	Qual.
1		13.0	Q
2			r
3			r

Quarterfinal 2

Place	Cyclist	Time	Qual.
1		12.6	Q
2			r
3			r

Quarterfinal 3

Place	Cyclist	Time	Qual.
1		13.2	Q
2			r
3			r

Quarterfinal 4

Place	Cyclist	Time	Qual.
1		13.2	Q
2			r
—			r

Quarterfinal 5

Place	Cyclist	Time	Qual.
1		11.8	Q
2			r
3			r

Quarterfinal 6

Place	Cyclist	Time	Qual.
1		13.6	Q
2			r
3			r

Quarterfinal 7

Place	Cyclist	Time	Qual.
1		12.6	Q
2			r
3			r

Quarterfinal 8

Place	Cyclist	Time	Qual.
1		12.8	Q
2			r
3			r

Repechage semifinals

Semifinal 1

Place	Cyclist	Time	Qual.
1			R
2
3
—		DQ

Semifinal 2

Place	Cyclist	Time	Qual.
1		13.0	R
2
3
4

Semifinal 3

Place	Cyclist	Time	Qual.
1		12.8	R
2
3
—		DNS

Semifinal 4

Place	Cyclist	Time	Qual.
1		13.4	R
2
3
4

Repechage final

Place	Cyclist	Time	Qual.
1		13.0	Q
2
3
4

Semifinals

Semifinal 1

Place	Cyclist	Time	Qual.
1		14.8	Q
2		15.2
3		15.3

Semifinal 2

Place	Cyclist	Time	Qual.
1		12.6	Q
2		15.2
3		15.2

Semifinal 3

Place	Cyclist	Time	Qual.
1		12.6	Q
2		15.2
3		15.2

Final

Place	Cyclist	Time
1		13.0
2		15.1
3		15.1