Track Racing

There are many different events that can be raced on a velodrome, each has its own set of rules. Some of the more popular races you'll see at the velodrome are listed below.

Kilo/1000 Meter Time Trial:

A timed race that pits a solo rider against the clock, the "Kilo" is a test of speed and stamina in which each rider tries to cover a distance of 1000 meters (usually three laps) in as little time as humanly possible. Ridden from a standing start, the Kilo is won by a rider pushing himself to the utmost limits of his endurance.

Match Sprint:

Like the Kilometer, the match sprint is run over a distance of 1000 meters, but in a match sprint, two to four riders start at the same time, and they race against each other rather than against the clock. Although they are timed over the last 200 meters of the race, the winner of the race is the rider who crosses the finish line first, regardless of how long it takes. Match sprints work by a process of elimination, so that the riders must work their way up through several rounds of sprints, called "heats." Only two riders compete in the finals, which consist of three races. By scoring two wins in the finals, a rider becomes the winner of the event.

Tandem Sprint:

Like the Match Sprint, but ridden on two-man tandem bikes over a distance of 1500 meters instead of 1000. The Tandem Sprint is one of the fastest events on the track.

Olympic Sprint:

Take three of your fastest men. Line them up, team pursuit style, with three other fastest men on the other side of the track. When the gun goes off, each team moves into team pursuit position, one in back of the other, accelerating to top speed as quickly as possible. The first man rides one lap on the front and pulls off. The second continues, pulling off after the second lap. The last man continues for the third and final lap, driving through to the finish. This race is an all-out drag race that requires speed, teamwork, and consistency.

Individual Pursuit:

A race in which two riders start on opposite sides of the track and chase each other for a given distance. If one rider catches the other before they've gone the full distance, the race ends immediately. If neither rider catches his opponent, the race goes the full distance and is won by the rider who covers the distance in the least amount of time. Women and juniors go a distance of 3000 meters, amateur men go 4000 meters, and professionals go 5000 meters.

Team Pursuit:

A 4000 meter race, the team pursuit is like the individual pursuit, except that it involves two teams of riders instead of two individuals. There are four men on each team, and they ride in a single file "pace line." Each of the four riders takes a turn at the front, changing the lead every lap or every half lap. The front rider swings up the track's banking, letting his teammates pass, and then drops back down to catch on to the back of the line. Only three of the four riders need to go the full distance, because the team's total time is taken as the third rider in the group crosses the line.

Mass Start or "Scratch" Race:

Not surprisingly, all the riders in a Mass Start race start at the same time. The riders all cover the same distance, with the winner being the first rider to cross the finish line at the end of that distance. Although speed is important, tactics and teamwork are equally vital. Groups of riders often take an early lead, and then work together to increase it while their teammates try to block and slow down the "field." On a small track, the leaders may gain an entire lap on the other riders and then join in with the main group again.

Points Race:

A variation of the Mass Start race, in which points are awarded to the top placing riders in a series of sprints contested at various intervals during the race. The winner of a Points Race is not necessarily the first to cross the finish line, but rather the rider who has accumulated the most points during the race.

Miss-And-Out:

Another variation of the Mass Start race that's sometimes called "Devil Take The Hindmost," because the last rider to cross the line after each (or every other) lap is taken out of the race. The field diminishes rapidly, until there are only a few riders left to contest the final sprint.

Motorpace:

Very popular in Europe, but rarely seen in the USA, the Motorpace is a race in which each rider stays glued behind a small motorcycle or moped, with only inches between them. Because the motorbikes break the wind and provide the riders with a slipstream to ride in, Motorpace riders can go much faster than the riders in most other events.

Keirin:

This Japanese version of the Motorpace, which is subject to parimutuel betting over there, has become very popular in the US, although, so far, without the betting. Keirin races, in which all the riders on the track jockey for position behind a single motorbike, sometimes most closely resemble the "Roller Derby" of old, with riders jostling and jabbing each other with elbows to get into the "sweet spot" behind the motorcycle. Then, just before the last lap, the motorbike pulls off the track, and the riders sprint madly to the line.

Madison:

Named for the famed Madison Square Garden in New York City, and known as the 'American' race in Europe, this most prestigious of track events is a race for teams of two or three riders, and can last anywhere from six hours to six days!! All riders start at the same time, and the winner is the team covering the most laps in the time allotted. Each team has only one rider in the race at any given time. After covering one or two laps at top speed, that rider drops out of the race so that another member of the team can come in and ride for a while. During the changeovers, the rider coming off the track literally throws the second rider into the race- either with a handsling, or by grabbing onto a special handle sewn into the rear pocket of their teammate's racing shorts. The Madison is considered to be the ultimate event in bicycle track racing, not only because of the length of the race, but also because of its incredible combined demands of speed, endurance, teamwork and tactics.