Everything you need to know about the different track disciplines
Riders go one on one in duels of pure power and gamesmanship. For riders that make the qualification cut, they’ll earn a place in 3 lap knockout heats until only the two strongest riders remain. You’ll see riders come to a standstill, goading their opponent to take the lead – where you don’t want to be until the final sprint.
Teamwork is everything in this event, raced by trios over 3 laps. Each rider goes all out for a lap before peeling off. When the last rider crosses the finish line, the team has their time.
Two athletes ride simultaneously during qualifications with the 8 fastest going through to the finals. The finals are raced as an individual time trial from a standing start. The competitor with the fastest time is the winner.
Riders follow in the slipstream of a pacing motorbike for 750m which goes faster and faster as the laps fly by. The motorbike, called a “derny”, then peels off and the all-out sprint finish begins.
Two riders start on opposite sides of the track and compete over 4km (3km for women). The winner is the rider who manages to catch his/her opponent or who records the fastest time.
Two teams of four riders start on opposite sides of the track and compete over 4km. The winning team is the one that manages to catch its opponents or that records the fastest time.
This is a bunch-start race of around 25km for women and 40km for men. Riders can gain points during sprints (one every 10 laps on a 250m track) and by lapping the rest of the field (+20 points). The final result is calculated according to the number of points won. Points awarded in the last sprint after the full distance are doubled (10 points, 6 points, 4 points, 2 points).
Teams of two riders take turns to race. It’s a relay race where partners use each other’s momentum via a hand sling. The winning team finishes with the most points accumulated from the sprint laps (5 for the winner, then 3, 2 and 1) and by lapping the field (20 points). In the final sprint, the points are doubled.
A mass start race for solo riders. Men race for 15km, women for 10km. First over the line wins.
Riders test their versatility across four events on the same day: scratch, tempo, elimination and points race. To win it, riders must finish strongly in all four events, rewarding consistency.
From a rolling start, riders sprint every two laps and the rider that crosses the line last on the sprint lap is eliminated. The field is narrowed as only the strongest sprinters stay cycling.
Look at the video to see all you need to know about the track bike
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