The track cycling event where four riders race in pursuit against a team is the team pursuit.
Two teams start on opposite sides of a velodrome and race over 4 kilometres. Each team rides in a tight line, taking turns at the front so the others can benefit from drafting and reduce aerodynamic drag. A team wins by recording the faster time or by catching the opposing team.
Although four riders start, the result is normally timed when the third rider crosses the finish line. This rewards coordinated teamwork rather than simply requiring every rider to finish together. A rider who has made an especially hard final effort may drop back after giving the team a powerful “pull.”
The team pursuit is often confused with the individual pursuit, in which one rider races another. It is also different from the team sprint: that event is much shorter and emphasizes explosive acceleration, while the pursuit tests pacing, rotation, endurance and tactical timing. Women’s and men’s Olympic team pursuits use four-rider teams over 4 kilometres.