Drama is always guaranteed on the track, where just milliseconds can decide the podium places.
With both team and individual events, some stars will be fighting for gold on multiple fronts at the velodrome in Montigny-le-Bretonneux.
Great Britain and the Netherlands are among the powerhouse nations in track cycling, both taking home three golds from Tokyo 2020.
Lotte Kopecky and Harrie Lavreysen meanwhile are just two of the superstar riders taking to the track, and they will certainly not be alone in challenging for the top of the podium.
Here we preview the 12 events and look at some of the favourites.
Swapping the road for the track is Belgium’s Kopecky, who won bronze in the road race and is hoping to take home the gold in the women’s omnium.
Kopecky is the reigning world champion in the points race and elimination track events, and is hoping to translate that success to the omnium, where world champion USA’s Jennifer Valente is defending her Olympic title.
In the men’s events, there are high hopes in the Netherlands once more for two-time Olympic champion and dominant force of track cycling, Lavreysen, the 13-time world champion who is out to defend his sprint title and also challenge for gold in the keirin.
The men’s omnium boasts an open field, but the roar of the crowd could inspire Benjamin Thomas to a home gold, the French cyclist having won the world title in this event in 2017 and 2020.
