On Saturday 10 August, the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Velodrome hosted the final of the men's Madison, as well as the elimination rounds and repeats of the men's Keirin and women's Sprint. Once again, the predictions were beginning to come true at these Olympics, with Australia and New Zealand rising to the top of the podium and countries such as Great Britain and the Netherlands proving their mettle as they have in the past. 

Denmark and the ever-resilient Italy are always among the top contenders but there were surprises in store this Saturday. Portugal's Madison team won the country's first gold medal of the Olympics. It came just one day after winning silver in the men's omnium. They scored 55 points (35 from sprints and 20 for a lap gain) to take the Olympic title and bask in the glory of track cycling's powerhouses. The tears of joy from the Portuguese team were palpable.

Italy took silver with 47 points (27 from sprints and a lap gain), while Denmark secured bronze with 41 points (21 from sprints and a lap gain). The race was spectacular for the spectators, but a bit chaotic for the riders. There were several crashes, including one to Spanish rider Torres, who was unable to continue and left his team in ninth place in the final standings.

The Spaniards were not the only ones to fall. Trinidad and Tobago's Kwesi Browne was stretchered off after crashing out of the keirin repechage. Gold medallists Iúri Leitão and Rui Oliveira celebrated an unexpected triumph for Portugal in the velodrome on the fifteenth day of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Italy's Elia Viviani and Simone Consonni took silver, coming within a whisker of gold in a final that saw the race fragment and strategy lost. 

Viviani was in tears at the end of the competition, lamenting the close call in his final Olympic Games. The multi-talented cyclist will now turn his attention to road racing, where he has enjoyed considerable success in prestigious global events.

Denmark's Niklas Larsen and Michael Mørkøv made the most of the chaotic race to take the bronze medal. They outperformed other nations such as Germany, who were among the favourites for the top spots. New Zealand and Japan, fourth and fifth respectively, outperformed the Europeans with smart and efficient racing. In the men's Madison, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Spain and Great Britain completed the top ten.

On the final day of the Olympic Games, Sunday 11 August, the medals will be decided in the men's keirin, women's sprint and women's omnium. These will be the last titles to be awarded in track cycling at Paris 2024. Water polo will also bring the curtain down on the Games.

Men's Madison Final Results:

Portugal (Iúri Leitão y Rui Oliveira) - 55 puntos

Italia (Elia Viviani y Simone Consonni) - 47 puntos

Dinamarca (Niklas Larsen y Michael Mørkøv) - 41 puntos