Points Race, Men

As in 2000 and 2004, the points race was a finals only affair of 40 km. (160 laps) with 16 field sprints every 10 laps. The race came down to three riders – Juan Llaneras (ESP), Roger Kluge (GER), and Chris Newton (GBR). The three were part of a five-man break that went away shortly after the sixth sprint, and lapped the field. After the eighth sprint, these three went off the front and gained another lap on several riders. Llaneras won the 9th, 10th, and 13th sprint to take a safe lead. He rode conservatively on the last few laps, protecting his position. He did not contest the final sprint as he added gold here to the one he had won in this event in 2000, the first cyclist to win a second gold medal in the points race. Kluge won the final sprint to get the silver over Newton, 58 points to 56. The 2008 World Champion, Belarussian Vasily Kiriyenko, placed fifth, while defending gold medalist Mikhail Ignatyev (RUS) placed 17th.