The Dutch went Dutch on Tuesday night at the vélodrome with two world records in the Olympic men’s cycling team sprint. They shared the exploit with themselves though in their surge to retaining the gold medal after two spectacular sessions of controlled power cycling.
Ray van den Berg, Harrie Lavreysen and Jeffrey Hoogland shaved fractions off their February 2020 high of 41.225 seconds to pulverize Canada in 41.191 seconds in heat four of the qualifying round to advance as the fastest team to the gold medal race.
Britain saw off Germany to set up a showdown.
But it was a set-to in name only. In the final, rather like the other sprinters in Usain Bolt's 100m races from back in the day, the jig was up early on.
Van den Berg completed the first 250m in 17.123 seconds. Britain's Ed Lowe was not that far behind in 17.346 seconds but Harrie Lavreysen changed the game. He finished his 250m in 11.763 seconds. Hamish Turnbull could only post 12.213 seconds. That gave the Dutch anchor Hoogland an advantage of 0.673 seconds.
The 31-year-old discarded the invitation to slouch. He increased the lead in the final 250m to cross the line 0.865 seconds ahead of Jack Carlin - an eternity at this level of marginal gains intensity – with a world record of 40.949 seconds.
Effort
"We have worked very hard for this moment and for the three of us to do this is an amazing achievement,” said Van den Berg.
"That everything works out in the final as well," he added. "We kept our heads cool, kept focusing on ourselves and did something on this track which has never been done before.
"People were always happy to race in 41 seconds. And today we achieved the 40 second barrier, which is absolutely outstanding, in my opinion.
"And I'm very happy to have achieved this with an amazing team, which includes our staff as well."
So rapidly had the records changed that the official Olympic website could not function at the same quicksilver pace.
Update
It was showing the old Berlin-set mark of 41.225 when the 41.191 was valid and 41.191 for a good couple of hours when a new fashion had come to town sported by the same triumvirate who had won gold in Tokyo
"It was amazing to have people in the stands," beamed Van den Berg. "In Tokyo it was empty and so it was fantastic to perform here for this amazing crowd.
"Around 20 of my friends and my family were here to celebrate this achievement plus all the supporters from the Netherlands ... it was absolutely wonderful. And to set a world record while winning an Olympic gold, it doesn't get any better than that."
The whiplash evening in Saint Quentin-en-Yvelines started with the eight teams sliced up into four heats. The challenge was simple. Win at breakneck speed.
France's Rayan Helal, Florian Grengbo and Sebastien Vigier - bronze medallists in Tokyo in 2021, launched the extravaganza amid cheers of "Allez les Bleus" against Japan. The trio won in 42.376 seconds. It was greeted with a frenzy of noise.
Ultimately, it was only good enough to reach the bronze medal race against Australia.
Redemption
The Australians won that in 41.597 seconds to the chagrin of the partisans but to the glee of Matthew Glaetzer who had lost in bronze medal races in London 2012, Rio in 2016 and Tokyo in 2021.
"I've lived through a lot of heartbreak," said the 31-year-old.
"Every team sprint in the Olympics, I've been on the losing side in the bronze final and it's been very tough.
"But to finally come out on the winner's side was pretty special."
For the record, Japan were fifth and Germany sixth. China secured seventh spot after beating Canada.
Following his title-winning exploits, Van den Berg said there would be no celebrations to make sure he was at breakfast with Lavreysen and Hoogland.
"They have the individual sprints on Wednesday and I want to show the guys respect by going to bed early and getting up early as well to support them.
"We have worked so hard for this team sprint," he added. "For them, the competitions have just started and it started very well.
"But there's three days of sprint events and then two days keirin. So it means they have to perform for five more days and they have to be at their absolute best. And so no time for celebrations yet.
"But on Sunday night, that will be a good one."
