Olympic Men's Track Cycling: Gold hopes rest with team sprint

Track cycling has always been a big focus for Australia at the Olympic Games, but there is uncertainty over how the men’s team will perform in Paris.

The Tokyo Olympics turned out to be a disaster for the Australian track team, with just a bronze medal in the men’s team pursuit to show for their efforts.

It was their worst total on the track since the Moscow Olympics in 1980 and they will be hoping for better in Paris.

Australia named seven men as part of their track team for Paris and the Track Team Sprint could represent their best chance of landing a gold medal.

Let’s take a look at the men’s teams best hopes on the track.

Team Sprint

Australia have a strong team for the Team Sprint, with Matthew Glaetzer, Matthew Richardson and Leigh Hoffman gunning for glory.

The trio can be backed at 3.20 to win the gold medal, but it goes without saying the competition will be fierce.

The Netherland are currently the hot fancies at 2.00, while Great Britain will also be a huge threat at 4.00.

Glaetzer will be competing at his fourth Olympics and has bags of experience which will be crucial as Australia look to turn the tables on the Netherlands.

Australia did win the world title two years ago, while they were then runners-up to the Netherlands last year.

The Dutch are dominating track cycling at the moment and will take some beating in the Team Sprint.

Individual Sprint

Again it is Dutchman who is the hot fancy to win the gold medal in the Individual Sprint in Paris.

Harrie Lavreysen is the defending Olympic champion and will be the man to beat, with the 27-year-old 1.50 to win the gold medal again.

However, if things do not go to plan for Lavreysen, then two Australians look to have the best chance of taking gold.

Matthew Richardson is next in the betting at 6.50, while Matthew Glaetzer is available at 7.50.

Richardson has shown his credentials when winning the gold medal in the Track Sprint at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.

Winning the gold in Paris would be next level and he is sure to push Lavreysen hard.

Team Pursuit

Australia will be represented by Kelland O’Brien, Sam Welsford, Conor Leahy and Oliver Bleddyn in the Team Pursuit, but hopes of gold are not particularly high.

Indeed, Australia are priced at 13.00 to win the Team Pursuit.

Led by Filippo Ganna, Italy are currently favourites to win gold at 2.75, while Denmark and Great Britain are both 3.00.