Olympic sprint
Encyclopedia
The Team sprint is a track cycling
event. Despite its name, it is not a conventional cycling sprint
event - it is, in the men's event, a three-man team time trial
held over three laps of a velodrome
, and, in the women's event, a two-woman event held over two laps.
The current men's world best time is 42.950 seconds, set by the British team of Jamie Staff
, Jason Kenny
and Chris Hoy
in heat 6 of the Team Sprint event at the 2008 Olympic Games
. This is referred to as a world's best time as the race is held over three laps of a track, not a set distance in metres. As velodrome can vary in exact length this can only be referred to as a world's best time not a world record.
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.
Track cycling
Track cycling is a bicycle racing sport usually held on specially built banked tracks or velodromes using track bicycles....
event. Despite its name, it is not a conventional cycling sprint
Sprint (cycling)
The sprint or match sprint is a track cycling event involving between 2 and 4 riders, though they are usually run as a one-on-one match race between opponents who, unlike in the individual pursuit, start next to each other.- Racing style :...
event - it is, in the men's event, a three-man team time trial
Team time trial
A team time trial is a road-based bicycle race in which teams of cyclists race against the clock .Teams start at equal intervals, usually two, three or four minutes apart...
held over three laps of a velodrome
Velodrome
A velodrome is an arena for track cycling. Modern velodromes feature steeply banked oval tracks, consisting of two 180-degree circular bends connected by two straights...
, and, in the women's event, a two-woman event held over two laps.
The current men's world best time is 42.950 seconds, set by the British team of Jamie Staff
Jamie Staff
Jamie Alan Staff MBE is an English racing cyclist and coach, formerly on BMX and later on the track. A World and Olympic champion, he has also won numerous other medals at World Championships, World Cups and at the Commonwealth Games....
, Jason Kenny
Jason Kenny
Jason Francis Kenny MBE is an English track cyclist, specialising in the individual and team sprints. After winning multiple World and European Junior titles in 2006 and achieving medals in the under 23 European championships in 2007, Kenny was selected ahead of Ross Edgar to compete for Great...
and Chris Hoy
Chris Hoy
Sir Christopher Andrew "Chris" Hoy, MBE is a Scottish track cyclist representing Great Britain and Scotland. He is a multiple world champion and Olympic Games gold medal winner...
in heat 6 of the Team Sprint event at the 2008 Olympic Games
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
. This is referred to as a world's best time as the race is held over three laps of a track, not a set distance in metres. As velodrome can vary in exact length this can only be referred to as a world's best time not a world record.
It was first introduced into championship racing in 1996.
Like the team pursuit
Team pursuit
The team pursuit is a track cycling event similar to the individual pursuit, except that two teams, each of up to four riders, compete, start on opposite sides of the velodrome.- Race format :...
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
Track time trial
In the track time trial, a track cycling event, cyclists compete individually against the clock to record the fastest time over the specified distance from a standing start.-The bike:...
specialists are usually chosen for this role.