Individual Pursuit (4,000 metres), Men

The last few World Championships had been traded back-and-forth among Brits Graeme Obree and the 1992 gold medalist, Chris Boardman. But Boardman elected to ride only the road time trial in Atlanta. Obree competed in this event, but placed 12th in qualifying and did not make it to match racing. Qualifying was led by Andrea Collinelli (ITA) with a world record of 4:19.699. He bettered that in the fourth quarter-final, recording 4:19.153 in overtaking Ukraine’s Andriy Iatsenko. Collinelli made the final, where he outlasted France’s Philippe Ermenault to win the gold medal. Collinelli’s victory was aided by a new style bike, in which he rode with his arms outstretched well over the standard handlebars. It was also used by Italy’s Antonella Bellutti to win the women’s pursuit in Atlanta. The unusual position required by their bike was termed the Superman position because it resembled fictional accounts of the Man of Steel flying. Shortly after the Atlanta Olympics, the position was outlawed by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). One month after the Olympics, Collinelli met Boardman at the final of the World Track Championships, Boardman winning as he shattered the world record twice, defeating Collinelli with a time of 4:11.114.