1,000 metres Time Trial, Men

The track events began with the kilometer. Patrick Sercu (BEL) won the race in 1:09.59, not approaching the Olympic record because of the poor track conditions. Sercu had been 1963 World Champion in the sprint, but was disqualified in that event earlier in 1964. Italy’s Giovanni Pettenella won the silver medal, followed by Pierre Trentin (FRA) with the bronze. There would not be a World Championship race in the kilometer time trial until 1966, but the first one would be won by Trentin. Sercu would turn professional in 1965. Obviously a top sprinter, he won numerous races because of his sprinting abilities, and won the green jersey at the 1974 Tour de France. His titles included two professional sprint World Championships (1967, 1969), and 18 European Championships, including 12 in the omnium, given to the top all-rounder. Sercu was at his best in six-day races, winning 88 titles, accompanied 15 times by Eddy Merckx.