Team Pursuit (4,000 metres), Men

This was the first track event of the 1952 Olympics. Twenty-two teams competed in qualifying with eight advancing to the quarter-finals. The semi-finals came down to Italy against Great Britain, and South Africa against France. Italy won the first semi in a fast time, leading Britain by 3.7 seconds. In the second semi, two French riders fell off the pace on the last lap and South Africa was declared the winner. Italy rode away from South Africa in the final, winning easily. The bronze medal race was very close, with Britain declared the winner – the fifth straight bronze medal for Great Britain in this event. They would extend that string to six in 1956. France had won the gold medal in 1936 and 1948, while Italy had won the previous four Olympic titles, going back to 1920. Italy was led by Marino Morettini, who also won silver in the kilometer, and would later become World Champion in the sprint in 1953.