The Netherlands cycling team, affectionately known as the ‘Flying Dutch,’ reclaimed their Olympic title in the men’s team sprint at the National Velodrome on Tuesday, rewriting history with two world record-breaking performances within an hour. The Dutch trio of Roy van den Berg, Harrie Lavreysen, and Jeffrey Hoogland, considered the overwhelming favorites before the Games, delivered a masterclass in sprinting, leaving no doubt about their dominance.
The final saw the British team, aiming to halt the ‘Bullet Train,’ put up a valiant fight, but they were ultimately no match for the Dutch powerhouse, finishing almost a second behind in a race often decided by the narrowest of margins. Australia secured the bronze medal after a thrilling victory over France, marking their first podium finish in the men’s team sprint since 2000.
“It’s crazy,” Lavreysen, a two-time gold medalist from the Tokyo Games and a contender for a third gold this year, told reporters. “Of course we were going for the gold medal tonight but breaking world records and going so quick was really special.”
The Dutch team sent a clear message in the first round, shattering their own world record with a blistering time of 41.191 seconds. However, this was merely a warm-up in the sweltering velodrome as they transformed the final into a procession against the British team coached by the legendary Jason Kenny.
Lavreysen, nicknamed ‘The Beast’ for his immense power, took the lead for the second lap of the 250-meter track, leaving the experienced Hoogland to finish strong. The 27-year-old Lavreysen, a 13-time world champion, has his sights set on defending his sprint title and then tackling the keirin, the only discipline he missed out on winning in Tokyo.
Asked if he felt unbeatable, Lavreysen smiled. “Well, it feels nice going into this week. “Let’s go for it (three golds). I feel good, I broke my PB on my lap and really looking forward to the sprint.”
For Britain’s Jack Carlin, who partnered with Ed Lowe and Hamish Turnbull, it was another close call, and the sight of the orange-clad Dutch sprinters must be a constant reminder of missed opportunities. He now boasts 14 Olympic, world, or European medals but is yet to secure a gold.
“Look at the world record. The Dutch are a great team, they are three great individuals. We executed what we knew we could do. We went to that final and enjoyed it,” he said.
The day at the velodrome was filled with thrilling races and broken records. The British women’s team sprint squad had already set a new world record on day one en route to their gold medal. Australia’s men also joined the record-breaking spree, shattering the team pursuit world record in the first round. The quartet of Oliver Bleddyn, Sam Welsford, Conor Leahy, and Kelland O’Brien clocked an impressive 3:40.730 and will go head-to-head with 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 team decimated reigning champions Italy, told reporters. Italy and Denmark will contest the bronze medal.
New Zealand’s women’s team pursuit team dominated the qualifying rounds, narrowly missing out on breaking the world record. The quartet of Ally Wollaston, Bryony Botha, Emily Shearman, and Nicole Shields completed 16 laps of the 250-meter track in 4:04.679, edging out the United States, who finished second in 4:05.238.
