Cycling Track at the 2004 Summer Olympics

For the first time since 1976, there was no change in the Olympic track cycling program. The men contested eight events – kilometre time trial, match sprint, individual pursuit, team pursuit, and points race, keirin, Madison, and Olympic sprint; and the women competed in four events – 500 metre time trial, match sprint, individual pursuit, and points race. The track events were held at the indoor Olympic Velodrome, with a 250.0 metre all-weather wooden-surfaced track.

Australia was the dominant nation in track cycling at Athina, winning five gold medals. Great Britain and Russia won two events, with Canada, Germany, and New Zealand winning one each. Two riders who would become much known for road cycling won gold medals, as Bradley Wiggins (GBR) won the individual pursuit and Stuart O’Grady (AUS) won the Madison. Wiggins would defend his individual pursuit title in 2008, and ended his Olympic career with eight medals and five gold medals. On the roads, he would be best known for winning the 2012 Tour de France.

O’Grady competed in the Olympics from 1992-2012, only the second man, after Argentine Juan Esteban Curuchet, to ride in six Olympics. O’Grady won four Olympic medals in all, with silver-bronze in team pursuit in 1992-96 and a points race bronze in 1996, but he competed in the Olympic road race from 2000-12. O’Grady rode 17 Tours de France, the most ever, tied with American George Hincapie, and he was a four-time runner-up in the green jersey competition at the Tour.