French national coach and former Olympic Sprint Champion Daniel Morelon is strongly in favour of keeping the two events, which are considered by many to be equivalent to the 100 metre dash in athletics. "I ask the UCI officials not to take the Kilometre and the 500 metre time trial out of the Olympic program," Morelon wrote to Cyclingnews. "These 'races of truth' have always, since numerous Olympiades, crowned formidable men and women's champions. These disciplines: the ability to push one's limits to perfection and beyond, courage, and strength in character, have all that we look for in the Olympic ideal."
