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How did pacers affect early American track races?
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cycling
Individual Neutral Athlete Gleb Syritsa, a Russian passport holder, cycling past Les Invalides during the men's road cycling individual time trial at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
In early American cycling, pacers played a significant role in track racing by riding ahead of the contestants at a high speed to maintain a fast pace before dropping away from the race. This practice was commonly employed during long-distance track competitions, which served as the primary venue for the sport in the United States during its formative years.1