Cycling at the 1900 Summer Olympics – Men's sprint explained

Event:	Men's sprint
Games:	1900 Summer
Venue:	Vélodrome de Vincennes
Dates:	September 11 (heats and quarterfinals) September 13 (semifinals and final)
Competitors:	69
Nations:	6
Longnames:	yes
Gold:	Albert Taillandier
Goldnoc:	FRA
Silver:	Fernand Sanz
Silvernoc:	FRA
Bronze:	John Henry Lake
Bronzenoc:	USA
Prev:	1896
Next:	1908 (Summer Olympics)

The men's sprint was one of the three cycling events, all track cycling, now regarded as "Olympic" on the Cycling at the 1900 Summer Olympics programme. It was held on 11 September and 13 September. The sprint, a 2000-metre race with 1000-metre heats, was conducted in four rounds. 69 of the 72 cyclists competed in the sprint, including cyclists from all six competing nations. The event was won by Albert Taillandier of France (the nation's second consecutive victory in the men's sprint), with his countryman Fernand Sanz in second place. John Henry Lake of the United States won the nation's first cycling medal with his bronze.

Background

This was the second appearance of the event, which has been held at every Summer Olympics except 1904 and 1912. None of the cyclists from 1896 returned. Two of the three top sprinters in 1900 were French and competed: Ferdinand Vasserot and Albert Taillandier. (The third, Alphonse Didier-Nauts of Belgium, did not compete). An American, John Henry Lake, however, had finished second in the world championships to Didier-Nauts and was the most significant non-French competitor in the field.^[1]

Belgium, Bohemia, Italy, and the United States each made their debut in the men's sprint. France and Germany made their second appearance, having previously competed in 1896.

Competition format

Unlike modern sprint events (which use a flying 200 metre time trial to cut down and seed the field, followed by one-on-one matches), the 1900 sprint used very large initial heats of up to eight cyclists each before smaller quarterfinals, semifinals, and final with three cyclists in each race. For the first round, the top three cyclists in each heat advanced; in the quarterfinals and semifinals, only the fastest man moved on. The distance for each race was 1 kilometre.^[1]

Records

The records for the sprint are 200 metre flying time trial records, kept for the qualifying round in later Games as well as for the finish of races.

• World records were not tracked by the UCI until 1954.

Lloyd Hildebrand set the initial record of 15.4 seconds in the first heat. Adolphe Cayron improved on that in the second heat, to 14.2 seconds. John Henry Lake dropped the record to 14.0 seconds in heat 6. Antonio Restelli finished the first round with a 13.6 second time in the ninth heat. Lake responded with 13.2 seconds in the first quarterfinal, only to see Restelli go 13.0 seconds in the fourth. Albert Taillandier dropped below that to 12.6 seconds in the next quarterfinal, a time that held through the rest of the 1900 Games.^[1]

Schedule

Date	Time	Round
Tuesday, 11 September 1900	9:00 14:00	Round 1 Quarterfinals
Thursday, 13 September 1900		Semifinals Final

Results

Round 1

The first round was held on 11 September. It began at 9 a.m. The top three cyclists in each of the 9 heats advanced to the quarterfinals.

Heat 1

Stratta was a wheel behind Hildebrand, with Vasserot very close after that.^[1]

Rank	Cyclist	Nation	Time	200 m	Notes
1			1:34.2	15.4	,
2			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
3			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
4–8			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—

Heat 2

Coindre was a wheel behind Cayron; Daumain was not close.^[1]

Rank	Cyclist	Nation	Time	200 m	Notes
1			1:34.2	14.2	,
2			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
3			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
4–8			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—

Heat 3

Sanz was a half-length behind Gottron.^[1]

Rank	Cyclist	Nation	Time	200 m	Notes
1			1:32.4	14.4
2			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
3			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
4–8			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—

Heat 4

Rank	Cyclist	Nation	Time	200 m	Notes
1			1:30.4	14.4
2			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
3			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
4–8			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
	Franzen		data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—

Heat 5

Davis was a length behind Maisonnave.^[1]

Rank	Cyclist	Nation	Time	200 m	Notes
1			1:35.8	14.4
2			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
3			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
4–8			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—

Heat 6

Rank	Cyclist	Nation	Time	200 m	Notes
1			1:35.8	14.0
2			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
3			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
4–8	J. Bérard		data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—

Heat 7

Dohis was a wheel behind Taillandier, with Germain a close third.^[1]

Rank	Cyclist	Nation	Time	200 m	Notes
1			1:36.8	15.0
2	Marcel Dohis		data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
3			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
4–7			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—

Heat 8

Rank	Cyclist	Nation	Time	200 m	Notes
1			1:35.4	14.4
2			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
3			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
4–6	Édouard Maibaum		data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
data-sort-value=7	—			data-sort-value=9:99.9		data-sort-value=99.9	—

Heat 9

Wick and Hubault fell and did not finish.

Rank	Cyclist	Nation	Time	200 m	Notes
1			1:37.6	13.6	,
2			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
3			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
4–5			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
—			data-sort-value=9:99.9		data-sort-value=99.9	—
			data-sort-value=9:99.9		data-sort-value=99.9	—

Quarterfinals

The quarterfinals were also held on the first day of competition, 11 September. They began at 2 p.m. Only the winning cyclist of each of the 9 quarterfinals advanced to the semifinals.

Quarterfinal 1

Stratta was three lengths behind Lake.^[1]

Rank	Cyclist	Nation	Time	200 m	Notes
1			2:02.0	13.2	,
2			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
3			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—

Quarterfinal 2

Bullier was two lengths behind Sanz.^[1]

Rank	Cyclist	Nation	Time	200 m	Notes
1			2:00.0	14.0
2			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
3			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—

Quarterfinal 3

Duill was a wheel behind Coindre.^[1]

Rank	Cyclist	Nation	Time	200 m	Notes
1			1:50.0	14.4
2			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
3			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—

Quarterfinal 4

Hildebrand was a wheel behind Restelli.^[1]

Rank	Cyclist	Nation	Time	200 m	Notes
1			1:52.4	13.0	,
2			data-sort-value="9:99.9"	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
3			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—

Quarterfinal 5

Vincent was two lengths behind Taillandier.^[1]

Rank	Cyclist	Nation	Time	200 m	Notes
1			2:00.6	12.6	,
2			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
3			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—

Quarterfinal 6

In a very close race, Brusoni was a quarter-wheel behind Mallet.^[1]

Rank	Cyclist	Nation	Time	200 m	Notes
1			2:45.0	data-sort-value=15.0	Unknown
2			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
3			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—

Quarterfinal 7

Ponscarme was three lengths behind Maisonnave.^[1]

Rank	Cyclist	Nation	Time	200 m	Notes
1			1:49.2	14.2
2			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
3			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—

Quarterfinal 8

Dohis was a half length behind Vasserot.^[1]

Rank	Cyclist	Nation	Time	200 m	Notes
1			2:21.6	14.2
2	Marcel Dohis		data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
3			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—

Quarterfinal 9

Rank	Cyclist	Nation	Time	200 m	Notes
1			2:57.4	13.8
2			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
3			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—

Semifinals

The semifinals were conducted on 13 September. The top cyclist in each of the three semifinals advanced to the final, guaranteeing himself a medal.

Semifinal 1

Lake had defeated Vasserot previously in 1900, at the world championships where the two had placed second and third to Léon Didier-Nauts. Lake won again in this match, with Vasserot a short length behind.^[1]

Rank	Cyclist	Nation	Time	200 m	Notes
1			2:09.6	13.6
2			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
3			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—

Semifinal 2

Restelli was a half wheel behind Sanz.^[1]

Rank	Cyclist	Nation	Time	200 m	Notes
1			2:46.6	13.4
2			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
3			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—

Semifinal 3

Rank	Cyclist	Nation	Time	200 m	Notes
1			2:42.6	14.6
2			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
3			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—

Final

The final was held on the same day as the semifinals, 13 September.

Rank	Cyclist	Nation	Time	200 m
			2:52.0	13.0
			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—
			data-sort-value=9:99.9	—	data-sort-value=99.9	—

Results summary

Rank	Cyclist	Nation	Round 1	Quarterfinals	Semifinals	Final	Notes
			data-sort-value=1	1st (15.0)	data-sort-value=1	1st (12.6)	data-sort-value=1	1st (14.6)	data-sort-value=1	1st (13.0)
			data-sort-value=2	2nd	data-sort-value=1	1st (14.0)	data-sort-value=1	1st (13.4)	data-sort-value=2	2nd
			data-sort-value=1	1st (14.0)	data-sort-value=1	1st (13.2)	data-sort-value=1	1st (13.6)	data-sort-value=3	3rd
4			data-sort-value=1	1st (14.4)	data-sort-value=1	1st (13.8)	data-sort-value=2	2nd	data-sort-value=9	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=1	1st (13.6)	data-sort-value=1	1st (13.0)	data-sort-value=2	2nd	data-sort-value=9	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=3	3rd	data-sort-value=1	1st (14.2)	data-sort-value=2	2nd	data-sort-value=9	Did not advance
7			data-sort-value=2	2nd	data-sort-value=1	1st (14.4)	data-sort-value=3	3rd	data-sort-value=9	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=1	1st (14.4)	data-sort-value=1	1st (14.2)	data-sort-value=3	3rd	data-sort-value=9	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=3	3rd	data-sort-value=1	1st (Unknown)	data-sort-value=3	3rd	data-sort-value=9	Did not advance
10			data-sort-value=2	2nd	data-sort-value=2	2nd	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=3	3rd	data-sort-value=2	2nd	Did not advance
	Marcel Dohis		data-sort-value=2	2nd	data-sort-value=2	2nd	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=1	1st (14.4)	data-sort-value=2	2nd	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=1	1st (14.4)	data-sort-value=2	2nd	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=1	1st (15.4)	data-sort-value=2	2nd	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=2	2nd	data-sort-value=2	2nd	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=2	2nd	data-sort-value=2	2nd	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=2	2nd	data-sort-value=2	2nd	Did not advance
19			data-sort-value=1	1st (14.2)	data-sort-value=3	3rd	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=3	3rd	data-sort-value=3	3rd	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=3	3rd	data-sort-value=3	3rd	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=2	2nd	data-sort-value=3	3rd	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=2	2nd	data-sort-value=3	3rd	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=3	3rd	data-sort-value=3	3rd	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=3	3rd	data-sort-value=3	3rd	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=3	3rd	data-sort-value=3	3rd	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=3	3rd	data-sort-value=3	3rd	Did not advance
28			data-sort-value=4	4th–8th	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=4	4th–7th	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=4	4th–8th	Did not advance
	J. Bérard		data-sort-value=4	4th–8th	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=4	4th–8th	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=4	4th–7th	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=4	4th–8th	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=4	4th–8th	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=4	4th–8th	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=4	4th–8th	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=4	4th–5th	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=4	4th–8th	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=4	4th–8th	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=4	4th–7th	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=4	4th–8th	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=4	4th–8th	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=4	4th–8th	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=4	4th–8th	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=4	4th–8th	Did not advance
	Franzen		data-sort-value=4	4th–8th	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=4	4th–8th	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=4	4th–8th	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=4	4th–8th	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=4	4th–8th	Did not advance
	Édouard Maibaum		data-sort-value=4	4th–6th	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=4	4th–7th	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=4	4th–5th	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=4	4th–8th	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=4	4th–8th	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=4	4th–6th	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=4	4th–8th	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=4	4th–8th	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=4	4th–8th	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=4	4th–8th	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=4	4th–8th	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=4	4th–8th	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=4	4th–6th	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=4	4th–8th	Did not advance
			data-sort-value=4	4th–8th	Did not advance
—			data-sort-value=5		Did not advance
		data-sort-value=5		Did not advance
data-sort-value=69	—			data-sort-value=5		Did not advance

References

• International Olympic Committee medal winners database
• De Wael, Herman. Herman's Full Olympians: "Cycling - track 1900". Accessed 19 March 2006. Available electronically at http://users.skynet.be/hermandw/olymp/cyt1900.html .
• Book: Mallon, Bill . 1998 . The 1900 Olympic Games, Results for All Competitors in All Events, with Commentary . McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers . Jefferson, North Carolina . 0-7864-0378-0 . registration .

Notes and References

1. Web site: Sprint, Men . Olympedia . 12 November 2020.