Flying dutch shatter world record twice to retain Olympic men’s team sprint title
SAINT QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES, France: The Netherlands’ men’s team sprint squad delivered a breathtaking performance at the National Velodrome on Tuesday, smashing the world record twice within an hour to secure their Olympic title in dominant fashion. The trio, comprising Roy van den Berg, Harrie Lavreysen, and Jeffrey Hoogland, showcased their sprinting prowess and justified their status as overwhelming favorites.
In the final, the Dutch team, often referred to as the “Bullet Train,” faced off against Britain. Despite Britain’s efforts to challenge their rivals, they fell nearly a second short in a race typically decided by the narrowest of margins. The Dutch team’s victory was comprehensive, demonstrating their superior speed and coordination.
Meanwhile, Australia claimed the bronze medal by defeating France, marking their first podium finish in the men’s team sprint since the 2000 Olympics.
Reflecting on the remarkable achievement, Harrie Lavreysen, who aims to surpass his two gold medals from the Tokyo Games, expressed his elation: “It’s crazy. Of course, we were going for the gold medal tonight, but breaking world records and going so quick was really special.”
The Dutch team’s dominance was evident from the start, as they set a new world record in the first round with a blistering time of 41.191 seconds, sending a clear message to their competitors and solidifying their place at the pinnacle of the sport.(Reuters)
