Team Pursuit (4,000 metres), Men

The West German (FRG) team was favored, but Italy, 1966 and 1968 World Champions, were considered challengers. The altitude and fast track brought forth very fast times. In the ninth heat of qualifying, the FRG broke the world record with a time of 4:19.90, bettering the Italian mark of 4:20.64. In the next heat, Italy regained the record with 4:16.10. Unfortunately they were drawn against each other in the first semi-final. A superb race, West Germany broke the record again with 4:15.76, narrowly defeating the Italians, who recorded 4:16.21. The final matched a tired West German team against Denmark. Germany always led and the race looked over when, after 9 of 12 laps, a Danish rider went off the back. But they re-grouped although they trailed on the bell lap. The German team then began to split, with Jürgen Kissner dropping off the pace. As his teammate Karl Heinz Henrichs passed him, Kissner’s hand appeared to touch him, possibly giving him a slight push. Germany still held on to win by 3½ seconds. But Kissner was an East German defector and East German immediately protested that the touch had been an illegal shove. After a 15-minute conference among the judges, West Germany was disqualified, and Italy and the Soviet Union were announced as the silver and bronze medal winners. Now the FRG officials protested, stating that Italy and the Soviets should not be placed ahead of their riders. Another long conference ensued, and the result was announced as Denmark 1st, Italy 3rd. No silver medal placing was given until a meeting of the Fédération Internationale Amateur de Cyclisme (FIAC) in November, when West Germany was awarded second place and the silver medals.