France is favored to win gold in the three-man Team Sprint after winning three consecutive world championships.

The French won the first Men's Team Sprint Olympic Gold medal at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, but were relegated to bronze four years later in Athens as the Germans won gold ahead of silver medalists Japan.

The French are lining up with newcomer Kevin Sireau, experienced hand Gregory Bauge and veteran Arnaud Tournant, the same trio that delivered gold at the 2008 world track cycling championships in March.

The strongest challenge will come from a loaded Great Britain team, runners-up in the past three consecutive world championships behind France. The British will start with Jamie Staff, Ross Edgar and veteran Chris Hoy.

The Netherlands bring quality sprinters with Teun Mulder, Tim Veldt and team captain Theo Bos.

The Australians, bronze medalists in Sydney 2000, will be outsiders to win a medal while defending Olympic champions Germany bring a younger squad, with only Stefan Nimke returning from the gold-medal winning trio from the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

In the Men's Individual Pursuit Qualifying Round, reigning world and Olympic champion Bradley Wiggins of Great Britain will lead the favorites.

Australian Brad McGee, a three-time Olympic medalist in the Men's Individual Pursuit, is hunting for an elusive gold medal, while Jenning Huizenga of the Netherlands is coming off a strong silver medal performance at the 2008 world championships in March.

Sergi Oscar Escobar of Spain, 33, won bronze medals in the Men's Individual Pursuit and Men's Team Pursuit in Athens while 18-year-old American Taylor Phinney only started racing on the track 10 months ago and is the youngest competitor in the Cycling Track competition.

In Women's Individual Pursuit, defending world champion Rebecca Romero of Great Britain will battle with two-time world champion Sarah Hammer of the United States in one of the most heated rivalries on the track this year. Romero switched to cycling after winning a silver medal in rowing in the Quadruple Sculls in Athens.

Katie Mactier of Australia, silver medalist in Athens 2004, and Karin Thurig of Switzerland, who claimed the bronze medal in the Cycling Road Individual Time Trial on 13 August, will try to play spoilers.