Track racing differs from the other major cycling disciplines in that it is held indoors, making it the most spectator-friendly form of cycling racing. It is also the only form of racing that uses a fixed gear bike, which requires the rider to pedal at all times. Track races are held on a velodrome, which is a banked oval track that can range in size from 140 to 500 meters. Track cycling also has the most racing events:
1. sprint party. The match sprint is the cycling version of the 100 meter dash. It is contested by the fastest riders in any cycling discipline. Generally speaking, it involves two riders competing head-to-head over a short distance in a tournament format. Success in the match sprint requires both explosive power and tactical ability.
two. time trials. Track time trials are very similar to road time trials, except they are much shorter (typically 1 km for men and 500 meters for women). Each runner starts standing and runs alone for the entire race. The competitor with the fastest time wins.
3. single chase. This event is unique in that it involves two cyclists competing simultaneously against each other and against the clock. Runners start on opposite sides of the track and chase each other over a distance of 4 km (3 km for women).
Four. Keirin. A track race invented in Japan, Keirin involves six to nine cyclists following a motorized pacemaker (known as a derny) for about 2 km. During this time, the latter increases speed from 30 kph to 50 kph. With about 600 meters to go to the finish line, the last one starts and the runners compete in a massive sprint to the finish.
5. scratch race. A scratch race is a mass start event with fields of 24 riders. Men usually run 15 km and women 10 km. A very simple event, the scratch race is the track cycling version of the road race. The first runner to cross the finish line is the winner.
6. race points. Like the scratch race, the points race is a mass start event with 24 runners. The winner is the person who accumulates the most points over the course of the race. Points are awarded to the first four riders to cross the line at designated sprint points (eg every 10 laps) during the race. Points are also awarded to anyone who lapses in the main field. The length of the race is usually 40 km for men and 25 km for women.
7. omnium. The omnium is track cycling’s version of the decathlon. It consists of five events including a 200 meter time trial, a one kilometer time trial, a 5 kilometer scratch race, a 3 kilometer pursuit and a 15 kilometer points race. Points are awarded at the end of each race; first place gets 1 point, second place gets 2 points, etc. The rider with the fewest points after all five events is the winner.
8. team chase. The team pursuit is virtually identical to the individual pursuit in terms of how the race plays out. The only difference is that instead of having two riders in head-to-head competition, there are two teams of four riders each (three riders per team for the Women’s Team Pursuit). The race covers a distance of 4 km for men and 3 km for women.
9. madison. The Madison (so named because it originated in New York’s Madison Square Garden) is a 50 km team relay race contested by various teams of two cyclists each. During the race, only one rider per team is actually racing while their teammate rests at the top of the track. When the riders are ready to make an exchange, the resting rider descends and is literally swept into the action.
10 team sprint. The team sprint is a three-lap race (750 meters) contested by two teams of three runners each, although only one runner from each team finishes the race. From a standing start, each team forms a passing line. After the first lap, the lead rider gets off. After the second lap, the next rider starts and the last rider from each team races alone to the finish. The team with the fastest time wins.
