Ray van den Berg, Harrie Lavreysen, and Jeffrey Hoogland of the Netherlands shattered their own world record twice in one evening to clinch the Olympic men’s team sprint gold.
In the qualifying round, the trio set a blistering pace of 41.191 seconds, surpassing their previous best from February 2020. Advancing as the fastest team, they proceeded to dominate the gold medal race against Britain.
Van den Berg clocked an impressive 17.123 seconds for the first 250 meters, setting a strong foundation. Lavreysen then accelerated the pace further with a remarkable 11.763 seconds in his stretch, giving Hoogland a crucial advantage of 0.673 seconds over his British counterpart, Hamish Turnbull.
Hoogland maintained the lead in the final 250 meters, crossing the finish line in 40.949 seconds – a new world record. This achievement marked a significant breakthrough, as the Dutch team became the first to breach the 41-second barrier in this event.
Reflecting on their historic performance, van den Berg expressed his joy and gratitude: “We have worked incredibly hard for this moment, and achieving this with my teammates is an amazing feeling. We kept our focus and did something on the track that has never been done before.”
The evening in Saint Quentin-en-Yvelines was a whirlwind of adrenaline and records, culminating in a triumphant display of Dutch cycling prowess. With their families and supporters cheering them on, the team relished the moment, basking in the glory of their Olympic victory and new world record.
Looking ahead, van den Berg emphasized the team’s commitment to supporting their teammates in upcoming events: “There’s no time for celebrations yet. We have to stay focused and ensure we are there to support each other throughout the competitions ahead.”
The Dutch cyclists’ achievement not only secured Olympic gold but also reaffirmed their dominance in the world of track cycling, setting a benchmark for future competitions.
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