About Track Cycling

One of the most spectator-friendly disciplines of competitive cycling, track racing seems to have something for everybody. A plethora of events makes track cycling an interesting mix of sprint and endurance events in which athletes or teams compete in individual or mass-start races. Contested on a velodrome, track events offer non-stop action and some of the most impressive and exhilarating moments in cycling. Each track cycling event is a unique competition that relies on the strength, power, speed, endurance, strategy and tactics of its competitors to determine a winner.

Velodromes vary widely in total distance, shape and degree of banking, giving each velodrome its own personality. Riding the velodrome requires a fixed gear bike, meaning it has one gear and no brakes.

There are a variety of lines painted on the velodrome:

• The apron is the flat area between the infield and the track. This area is where you will start to ride before progressing onto the boards and is often painted concrete.
• The cote d'azur are light blue painted boards signal the edge of the track.
• The black line - also known as the datum line - is 20cm above the cote d'azur and denotes the shortest and therefore fastest way to cover the length of the track.
• The red line - also known as the sprinter's line - is 70cm above the black line and exists for rules to be implemented in competition.
• The blue line - also known as the stayer's line - is a safe spot to ride if you’re not actively engaged in a sprint effort.

Scratch Race

Riders compete over a specified distance and the first person to cross the line is the winner.

Points Race

Values are assigned to specific laps throughout a race, e.g. every tenth lap. Generally the leading rider and sometimes the second place rider will be awarded points. The structure and timing of points races varies greatly, but the winner is determined by the accumulation of points and not necessarily the rider crossing the line first at the end of the race.

Elimination Race

Also known as "miss and out." This race removes the last place rider from each lap (every second lap on shorter tracks) until only three to five riders remain. The final standings are then determined by a sprint over the last two laps.

Madison

Paired riders "sling" their teammate forward to facilitate alternating sprints that keep the pace very high during typically long races (30 km or 19 miles, or more, compared to 3–10 km or 1.9–6.2 mi for most other races). The name is taken from Madison Square Garden where the format was popular in the early 1900s. Since partners can trade as often as they like, this is a very busy race format, with half of the racers racing and half circulating around the track at any time.

Keirin

A motorcycle known as a Derny paces 6 to 9 riders, gradually accelerating until the last lap and a half when it pulls off the track and a sprint for the finish determines the winner.

Omnium

Competition assigns a point value to final standings of each race and riders accumulate points over the course of an event or series of events. This is not a specific race, but a competition that ties several races together. The Olympic event includes the Scratch, Tempo, Elimination, and Points Races.

Pursuit

Two or more competitors (or teams) are either chasing after each other or chasing after a lead competitor or team.

• The individual pursuit is an event where two cyclists begin the race from a stationary position on opposite sides of the track. The two riders start at the same time and set off to complete the race distance in the fastest time. This race makes for a good spectacle as the two riders pursue each other attempting to catch the other rider who started on the other side of the track. If the catch is achieved, then the successful pursuer is declared the winner. However, they can continue to ride the rest of the race distance to set the fastest time in a qualifying race or a record in a final.
• The team pursuit is an event like the individual pursuit, except that two teams, each of up to four riders, compete, starting on opposite sides of the velodrome.