| | Event type

Individual Pursuit (4,000 metres), Men

Date	31 August – 1 September 1972
Status	Olympic
Location	Radstadion, Olympiapark, München
Participants	28 from 28 countries

Switzerland’s Xaver Kurmann was favored. He had been bronze medalist in 1968 and was the World Champion in 1969-70. But the leading qualifying time was posted by the surprising Norwegian Knut Knudsen. Only two days before the qualifying, Knudsen had ridden with Norway’s team in the 100 km. team time trial. Knudsen was not well known but was an obvious talent. In both the quarter-final and semi-final, he overtook his opponent, finishing the semi in the fastest time of the competition, 4:45.57. In the final he met Kurmann, who led early. But Knudsen caught Kurmann at the end of the fourth lap, and pulled away to a comfortable victory, having a 6+ second margin at the end. The bronze medal went to the FRG’s Hans Lutz. Knudsen and Lutz would win the next two World Championships – Knudsen in 1973, Lutz in 1974. Knudsen turned professional and twice placed second in the event at the professional Worlds – 1975 and 1977.

Pos	Competitor	NOC	Qualifying	QF	SF	Final
1	Knut Knudsen	NOR	– (1)	– (1 h4)	– (1 h2)	– (1 h1)	Gold
2	Xaver Kurmann	SUI	– (5)	– (1 h1)	– (1 h1)	– (2 h1)	Silver
3	Hans Lutz	FRG	– (3)	– (1 h2)	– (DNF h2)	– (1 h2)	Bronze
4	John Bylsma	AUS	– (2)	– (1 h3)	– (2 h1)	– (2 h2)
=5	Carlos Miguel Álvarez	ARG	– (6)	– (2 h2)	–	–
=5	Luciano Borgognoni	ITA	– (4)	– (2 h1)	–	–
=5	Luis Díaz	COL	– (8)	– (DNF h4)	–	–
=5	Roy Schuiten	NED	– (7)	– (2 h3)	–	–
9 r1/4	Thomas Huschke	GDR	– (9)	–	–	–
10 r1/4	Ian Hallam	GBR	– (10)	–	–	–
11 r1/4	Francisco Huerta	MEX	– (11)	–	–	–
12 r1/4	John Vande Velde	USA	– (12)	–	–	–
13 r1/4	Reno Olsen	DEN	– (13)	–	–	–
14 r1/4	Mieczysław Nowicki	POL	– (14)	–	–	–
15 r1/4	Ivan Tsvetkov	BUL	– (15)	–	–	–
16 r1/4	Milan Puzrla	TCH	– (16)	–	–	–
17 r1/4	Miguel Espinós	ESP	– (17)	–	–	–
18 r1/4	Wilfried Wesemael	BEL	– (18)	–	–	–
19 r1/4	Raimo Suikkanen	FIN	– (19)	–	–	–
20 r1/4	Michel Zucarelli	FRA	– (20)	–	–	–
21 r1/4	Roberto Heredero	CUB	– (21)	–	–	–
22 r1/4	Ron Hayman	CAN	– (22)	–	–	–
23 r1/4	Vernon Stauble	TTO	– (23)	–	–	–
24 r1/4	Orlando Bates	BAR	– (24)	–	–	–
25 r1/4	Khosro Haghgosha	IRI	– (25)	–	–	–
26 r1/4	Michael Lecky	JAM	– (26)	–	–	–
27 r1/4	Tarek Abou Al Dahab	LBN	– (27)	–	–	–
28 r1/4	Maximo Junta	PHI	– (28)	–	–	–

Qualifying Round

Date	31 August 1972 — 15:00
Format	Top 8 advanced to the quarter-finals.

Pos	Competitor	NOC	Time
1	Knut Knudsen	NOR	–
2	John Bylsma	AUS	–
3	Hans Lutz	FRG	–
4	Luciano Borgognoni	ITA	–
5	Xaver Kurmann	SUI	–
6	Carlos Miguel Álvarez	ARG	–
7	Roy Schuiten	NED	–
8	Luis Díaz	COL	–
9	Thomas Huschke	GDR	–
10	Ian Hallam	GBR	–
11	Francisco Huerta	MEX	–
12	John Vande Velde	USA	–
13	Reno Olsen	DEN	–
14	Mieczysław Nowicki	POL	–
15	Ivan Tsvetkov	BUL	–
16	Milan Puzrla	TCH	–
17	Miguel Espinós	ESP	–
18	Wilfried Wesemael	BEL	–
19	Raimo Suikkanen	FIN	–
20	Michel Zucarelli	FRA	–
21	Roberto Heredero	CUB	–
22	Ron Hayman	CAN	–
23	Vernon Stauble	TTO	–
24	Orlando Bates	BAR	–
25	Khosro Haghgosha	IRI	–
26	Michael Lecky	JAM	–
27	Tarek Abou Al Dahab	LBN	–
28	Maximo Junta	PHI	–

Quarter-Finals

Date	31 August 1972 — 22:35
Format	Winner of each heat advanced to the semi-finals.

Heat #1

Pos	Competitor	NOC	Time
1	Xaver Kurmann	SUI	–
2	Luciano Borgognoni	ITA	–

Heat #2

Pos	Competitor	NOC	Time
1	Hans Lutz	FRG	–
2	Carlos Miguel Álvarez	ARG	–

Heat #3

Pos	Competitor	NOC	Time
1	John Bylsma	AUS	–
2	Roy Schuiten	NED	–

Heat #4

Pos	Competitor	NOC	Time
1	Knut Knudsen	NOR	–
DNF	Luis Díaz	COL	–

Semi-Finals

Date	1 September 1972 — 15:00
Format	Winner of each heat advanced to the final.

Heat #1

Pos	Competitor	NOC	Time
1	Xaver Kurmann	SUI	–
2	John Bylsma	AUS	–

Heat #2

Pos	Competitor	NOC	Time
1	Knut Knudsen	NOR	–
DNF	Hans Lutz	FRG	–

Final Round

Date	1 September 1972 — 21:44

Heat 1/2

Time	21:44

Pos	Competitor	NOC	Time
1	Knut Knudsen	NOR	–
2	Xaver Kurmann	SUI	–

Heat 3/4

Time	21:44

Pos	Competitor	NOC	Time
1	Hans Lutz	FRG	–
2	John Bylsma	AUS	–