Track racing differs from the other major cycling disciplines in that it takes place indoors, making it the most spectator-friendly form of cycling racing. It is also the only form of racing to use a fixed-gear bicycle, requiring 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 match. 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 sprint match requires both explosive power and tactical skill.
2. time trials. Track time trials are very similar to road time trials, except that they are much shorter (usually 1 km for men and 500 meters for women). Each runner starts on their feet and runs solo 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. The runners start on opposite sides of the track and chase each other over a distance of 4 km (3 km for women).
4. Keirin. A track race invented in Japan, the Keirin involves six to nine riders 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 riders 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, scratch racing is track cycling’s version of road racing. 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 riders. 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 (for example, every 10 laps) during the race. Points are also awarded to anyone who elapses 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 kilometer time trial, a 5 kilometer scratch race, a 3 kilometer pursuit and a 15 kilometer points race. Points are awarded at the completion 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 unfolds. The only difference is that instead of having two riders competing head to head, 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 multiple teams of two cyclists each. During the race, only one rider per team is actually racing while their teammate rests on top of the track. When the riders are ready to make a trade, the resting rider steps down and is literally swept into action.
10 TeamSprint. The team sprint is a three-lap (750-metre) race contested by two teams of three riders each, although only one rider from each team finishes the race. From a standing start, each team forms a passing line. After the first lap, the lead driver gets out. 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.
