The Pursuit, after the Sprint and motor-paced racing, is the oldest traditional event in the fight for track titles. In 1946 Gerrit Peters celebrated winning the first World Championships, while his successor was Fausto Coppi. They were followed by renowned names such as Antonio Bevilacqua, Roger Rivière, Rudi Altig, Gregory Brown, Brian Obree, Chris Boardman, Bradley Wiggins – and Stefan Küng. The Swiss rider will be in action on Saturday night fighting for his second medal in the European Championships taking place in his home country. His great condition, on top of the fact that he helped power his Swiss Team Pursuit team to a silver medal Thursday, marks him as a favorite, and practically guarantees another sold-out Velodrome Suisse.

For many cycling fans, it is incomprehensible how such an essential and tradition event as the Individual Pursuit, along with the Points Race and Madison, could be dropped from the Olympic program. For endurance athletes, the chance to win those three medals at the Olympics has been taken away. The Omnium is not an adequate substitute, though offering a contest in the six disciplines has become a very attractive combined event. But that tomorrow's third day in the medal competition includes the Kilometer Time Trial, 200 meter Flying Start, and Points Race all in the mix, there promises to be high voltage racing until the end.

Saturday, champions will be decided for the Kilometer Time Trial for the men, and 500 meters for women. Also on tap for Saturday, there is the discipline that has joined the European Championships for the first time, the Elimination Race, which is more or less an “every man for himself and the Devil take the hindmost” event. That means that every two rounds the rider in last position is pulled until the last two riders left will sprint for the victory.