Old sport in new bottle

Madison, a cycling discipline almost as old as the modern Olympics, makes an appearance at the Games for the first time in Sydney.

The event, a spectacular but occasionally confusing race for teams of two, comes from the colourful circus of winter six-day track racing in Europe, yet it was born in the United States.

It is one of three new races beefing up the track programme at the Dunc Gray velodrome from September 16 and was dreamed up as an alternative to having lone riders attempt endurance records without sleep.

The discipline takes its name from New York's Madison Square Garden where it first appeared in 1899, three years after the first modern Olympics were held in Athens.

Cycling at the Garden became a big social event with American presidents and notorious gangsters among the eager audience.

When the Garden was rebuilt for the third time in 1925, the opening event was cycling and the winners were invited to the White House by President Calvin Coolidge.

The Madison race spread to several other American cities before Europe took it up, dubbing it "l'Americain".

It looks like chaos on wheels. The aim is to lap the field and so score points. If no team laps the rest, the result is decided on points scored in sprints throughout the evening.

For many years, teams raced round the clock for six days, often in an atmosphere heavy with cigarette smoke. As long as one team member was on the track throughout the night, even if only gently circling, the organisers were happy.

American Charlie Miller got married in the track centre at Madison Square Garden in 1899 because he was not allowed to leave the arena.

But the Olympic race will be held on a single evening with the pairs accumulating points in intermediate sprints as they cover 60 km in relays.

Each rider takes time out by circling at the top of the track as his partner is racing. To help his team mate into the race, a rider will push him at the hip or take his hand and sling him forward.

Another new Olympic discipline born outside the European cradle of cycling is keirin, which has become a huge betting medium for its home nation, Japan.

In 1992, when Japan first allowed riders from other countries to compete, nearly three billion yen ($28.17 million) was placed on international races at seven tracks.

Contestants undergo 10 months of practical and written schooling in keirin racing and must pass an examination before they are let loose on any of the 50 purpose-built tracks in Japan.

The race starts with the riders, wearing large crash helmets, following a pace-making motorcycle. No one is allowed to pass the pacemaker and the jostling for positions builds up the tension.

With two laps to go the motorcycle leaves the track and a free-for-all sprint begins. It can get rough but in Japan, it brings celebrity status and wealth to the successful.

Yet Harumi Honda is the only Japanese man to have won the world championship which is now in its 21st year. His victory came 13 years ago and for the past two years the title has rested with Germany's Jens Fiedler.

Fiedler will be in Sydney to challenge for keirin gold as well as to defend the Olympic sprint title for the second time.

The third new discipline in Sydney was already called the Olympic sprint before it became a Games event and has been a world championship fixture for four years.

Teams of three start in opposing straights and after each lap the pace-setting rider peels off until just one is left with the aim of setting the fastest time.

France have won the last three world titles and hold track racing's World Cup. They hope to make an impact in all 10 finals in Sydney.

For their coach Daniel Morelon, the match sprint gold is a particular target. There has not been a French finalist in the event since Morelon himself took silver in Montreal in 1976 after twice winning gold in the oldest of the Olympic disciplines.

Paul Masson won the first of France's seven Olympic sprint golds in 1896.

Another gold for Jeannie Longo, who defends her Games road race title, would break a record that has stood for 80 years.

The Frenchwoman will be six weeks away from her 42nd birthday on race day, September 26, and could become the oldest Olympic champion in the sport.

In 1920, Dutchman Maurice Peeters won the sprint gold medal when he was 38 and before him, the oldest winner was Britain's Billy Pett, who at the age of 32 won the now discontinued 20-km race in 1906.