WarrenG said:watts/kg are pretty much irrelevant on the track because they don't have to climb hills. Watts relative to drag is a factor, but not too much. Max speed and sustaining very high speed matter
CdA correlates closely with height, as does mass. Thus, even if you're not climbing any hills, watts/kg is indicative your ability to overcome wind resistance, and thus go fast. Moreover, your power in watts/kg directly determines the rate at which you can accelerate your mass, e.g., from a standing start such as in the kilo, 500 m, or team sprint, or even during a flying 200 m and a match sprint (although during the latter two events more of the power you generate when accelerating goes to overcoming wind resistance). The upshot of all of the above is that power in watts/kg most definitely does matter on the track...which is why is if you want to be World Champion in, e.g., the match sprint, you need to be generating close to 24 W/kg, why the AIS (among others) uses tests of short-term power as a means of identifying talented athletes for further attention, etc., etc., etc.