Track Cycling at the 2024 Olympics

[Black Betsy]

Can we have here the schedule of the Olympics? Thanks in advance.

 

[Black Betsy]

Overwhelmed by the response! My goldfish makes more noise...

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Can we have here the schedule of the Olympics? Thanks in advance.

Of course you can. Go ahead and post it.

 

[RedheadDane]

My bold prediction: Italy to go under 3:40 in the Team Pursuit.
Or maybe some other team. Pretty sure it's gonna happen at some point.

 

[Black Betsy]

My bold prediction: Italy to go under 3:40 in the Team Pursuit.
Or maybe some other team. Pretty sure it's gonna happen at some point.

Where to grab an Italian track jersey, pls?

 

[RedheadDane]

Where to grab an Italian track jersey, pls?

How would I know that?

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

@Black Betsy

May I introduce you to the concept of google.com
There are loads of really efficient people there just waiting to answer your every request.
You will find them much quicker than we are.

And less likely to give snarky responses.

 

[Black Betsy]

How would I know that?

It was a general inquire, messed up things with reply button, however, I was looking for a pleb version of the uber expensive Lilliputian Castelli track jersey

 

[Black Betsy]

@Black Betsy

May I introduce you to the concept of google.com
There are loads of really efficient people there just waiting to answer your every request.
You will find them much quicker than we are.

And less likely to give snarky responses.

Yeah, forgot the alternatives to the UCI site which gives me vertigo each and every time I'm browsing at it.

Got them from the official site of the Olympics:

https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/schedule/cycling-track?day=5-august

 

[RedheadDane]

And less likely to give snarky responses.

People here don't give snarky responses...

 

[Didinho]

So Balsamo didn’t get fit in time I guess?
Seen a picture of Fidanza, Consonni, Paternoster, Guazzini and Alzini arrived in Paris today.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

So Balsamo didn’t get fit in time I guess?
Seen a picture of Fidanza, Consonni, Paternoster, Guazzini and Alzini arrived in Paris today.

Balsamo has arrived, too, but since she's preparing for the road race, I don't know if means anything that she isn't with the track team right now.

 

[Didinho]

Balsamo has arrived, too, but since she's preparing for the road race, I don't know if means anything that she isn't with the track team right now.

Oh yeah you’re right. Forgot she’s on the road team because in the Olympics app she’s listed with Paternoster in Omnium and Madison with Guazzini and/or Consonni. So still don’t know who’s the reserve rider in every event.

 

[Barnacle Bill]

Almost time for the track events, so we get the usual articles about the cost of all the equipment.

It seems the Japanese have quite a bike:

The super expensive bike with a drivetrain on the left, rather than the more orthodox right, will be ridden by the Japanese and boasts a V-IZU frame that on its own — without wheels, saddle, handlebars or pedals — costs €126,555 (just shy of £108,000).

But as one of the Dutch coaches mentions, prices are likely inflated to put off competitors from buying them:

According to the Dutch national sprint coach and physiologist, Mehdi Kordi, it can be the difference between gold and silver.
But Kordi says the prices for some of these products, particularly the bikes, are deliberately inflated to dissuade rival teams from buying them.
The UCI publishes its list because any equipment used has to be available to all. The overall cost of the British Hope bike, which has been developed in-house using 3D-printing technology, is £55,000, which becomes impractical for a national federation on a limited budget to buy in bulk when a team may need more than 30 frames.

So the "available to all" requirement is a bit of a farce, at least for now:

“Ultimately, you need a rider to power the bike,” Kordi says. “You need the physiology to achieve the speeds. But the two sides of the equation are propulsion and resistance, and if you can reduce the resistance between 4 and 8 per cent — and there will be that kind of disparity between certain teams — you need less power to go the same speed.
“And 4 to 8 per cent is massive. You go through a career trying to improve an athlete’s power by 10 per cent, but you can optimise it with the right suit, overshoes and bike. The difference between a good and a bad skinsuit can be as much as 10 per cent, because at 60km/h [almost 40mph] aerodynamics accounts for 98 per cent of resistance. Sprinters hit 80 km/h [50mph], so the resistance is huge.
“We talk about all this stuff. We had a meeting in Hong Kong, at the Nations Cup, and we discussed the different skinsuits, but there was a difference of opinion. We are happy with our equipment, but there’s no doubt the richer nations have an advantage.”

 

[Valv.Piti]

Track cycling starts today if Im not mistaken. Always fun to watch on the big stage!

 

[Tim Cahill]

I thought our full track team looked a bit underwhelming at first but we are so unbelievably back, in our favoured terrain and where it all started. Incredible last leg from Finucane.

 

[Tim Cahill]

I jinxed it in the kayak, but yeah, the team sprint looked pretty imperious. Bodes well for the pursuit, too, though Ganna is in good touch and the Danes are the Danes

Yeah just seen their team, Ganna Consonni, Milan, Lamon an absolutely terrifying lineup

 

[Brullnux]

Yeah just seen their team, Ganna Consonni, Milan, Lamon an absolutely terrifying lineup

Belgium going at 3:47 suggests that we might be seeing uhhh.... some very quick times.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Here he comes... it's all been for this. Can he prove the haters wrong, and by haters I mean me;

Ethan Hayter finished 18th!!! Someone tell Carlton!!!

'Pidcock has Ethan Hayter for company'

May aswell book the collarbone surgery now

Lovely top 22 for forum favourite and British semi-cyclist Ethan Hayter!

Crucial touchpoint of the race looks strung out I wonder if Ethan Hayter is anywhere near the f ah you know what just forget it

"Climb was really easy" - Ethan Hayter, stuck behind the split in position 120 the entire climb

 

[Brullnux]

3:43.2 for GB, very good.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Japan seems to think the old 3000m WE pursuit rules apply to this event.

 

[Brullnux]

France keeping all four together but still losing a second in the final kilometre, seems an odd choice?

 

[Samu Cuenca]

France keeping all four together but still losing a second in the final kilometre, seems an odd choice?

I didn't really understand that either.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Aussies look pretty good here even without their best rider Rohan Dennis.

 

[Brullnux]

I think it definitely is a fast track, Belgium at 3:47 and France at 3:45 is quite unusual. Australia and GB on world record pace, let's see what Denmark and Italy do...