Octave Lapize earned bronze, making France the only nation to have medalists at both appearances of the 100 kilometres race (Léon Flameng won in 1896).

From 1896 to 1924 (excluding 1912, when no track events were held), the track cycling programme included events at a variety of distances that changed from Games to Games and ranged from the 1⁄4-mile to the 100 kilometres (and, even longer, the unique 12 hours race in 1896 that saw finishers exceed 300 kilometres).

The favorite in 1908 was Leon Meredith of Great Britain, who had won the world championship in 1904, 1905, and 1907 (and would win again in 1908, 1909, 1911, and 1913).

[1] France, Germany, Great Britain, and Greece made their second appearance in the event, having competed previously in 1896 (along with Austria).

Belgium, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, South Africa, Sweden, and the United States made their only appearance in 1908.

Avrillon, leading for stretches, retired shortly after; along with the other non-finishers to that point, there were only 15 cyclists left of the 26 starters.

A crash a little after the one-hour mark eliminated Noon and Weintz, with Meredith falling but able to resume the race.

[1][4] It is not clear how Young advanced to the final; the Official Report says in the results of this heat that Coeckelberg and Denny qualified as having led the most laps, and in the description of the final field says that Young was "permitted to start, having satisfied the judges that he was not lapped in Heat 2.