The men's team pursuit was one of seven track cycling events on the Cycling at the 1908 Summer Olympics programme. It was the first appearance of a pursuit-style event. Each nation could enter 1 team of 4 cyclists.Official Report, p. 33.
Competition format
In the team pursuit competition, teams started at opposite sides of the track. Each team raced three laps of the track, comprising 1980 yards (1,810.5 m). The third cyclist in each four-man team to finish set the time for the team. The competition consisted of three rounds (heats, semifinals, and a final); in each round, two teams competed in each heat. The winner of each heat advanced.Official Report, pp. 422–23. The bronze medal was awarded based on the time of the two semifinal losers rather than a direct competition.Official Report, p. 125.
Results
First round
Heat 1
Rank Cyclists Nation Time Notes 1 Walkover Unknown
Heat 2
Rank Cyclists Nation Time Notes 1 Walkover 2 Unknown
Heat 3
The Dutch team had a bye in the first round.
Rank Cyclists Nation Time Notes 1 Walkover
Heat 4
In the only contested heat in the first round, the German team eliminated the French.
Rank Cyclists Nation Time Notes 1 2:25.4 2 2:32.0
Semifinals
Semifinal 1
The Canadians received third place overall as the faster of the two semifinal losers, while the British team moved on to the final.
Rank Cyclists Nation Time Notes 1 2:19.6 2 () 2:29.2The Canadian team's semifinal time is listed in the Official Report as "2 min. 292 sec."
Semifinal 2
Rank Cyclists Nation Time Notes 1 2:31.8 2 2:44.0
Final
Place Cyclists Nation Time 2:18.6 2:28.6
Notes
Sources
De Wael, Herman. Herman's Full Olympians: "Cycling 1908". Accessed 7 April 2006. Available electronically at .