The men's team pursuit event in cycling at the 1996 Summer Olympics competition consisted of matches between two teams of four cyclists.
The teams started at opposite ends of the track.
If neither was caught before one had gone 16 laps, the times for the distance (based on the third rider of the team to cross the line) were used to determine the victor.
The third fastest team from the semi-finals received the bronze medal.
The fastest two teams competed for the gold and silver medals.