The basics
Two teams race against each other, starting on opposite sides of the track. Each member of the team must lead for one lap.
The men’s Team Sprint is contested over three laps of the track, with three riders in a team; the women’s event is two laps with two riders.
The first team to cross the finish line is the winner.
Competition format
The Team Sprint starts with a qualifying round, with the best eight teams going forward to the first round (4th v 5th, 3rd v 6th, 2nd v 7th, 1st v 8th). The four winning teams in the first round contest the medals, with the two teams with the fastest times competing for gold, and the other two teams going head to head for bronze. The remaining four teams are ranked fifth to eighth in accordance with their first round times.
For a complete set of rules, please refer to the website of the International Cycling Union (UCI), the governing body for the sport.
Find out more about the Men's Track Cycling Team Sprint and Women's Track Cycling Team Sprint competitions at the Olympic Games on the International Olympic Committee website.
