Here, we provide some history of track cycling and a brief explanation of the bikes that are ridden. Then we break down the rules of each track cycling event that you’ll see at the Tokyo Olympics.

History of track cycling

Track cycling is one of the oldest Olympic disciplines, making an appearance at the very first Games in Athens in 1896. There are 12 different events, and the races are held in a bowl-shaped arena, called a velodrome, that is 250 meters round (though sizes can vary from track to track), with racers riding counterclockwise and achieving top speeds above 70km per hour . Olympic velodromes are constructed out of wood—Tokyo’s Izu Velodrome features Siberian Pine—and must bank at around 45 degrees, per UCI guidelines.

What kind of bikes do you ride in track cycling?

Track bikes are bicycles optimised for racing at a velodrome or an outdoor track. Unlike road bikes, the track bike is a fixed-gear with a single gear ratio, and without a freewheel or brakes. They are meant to be ridden over smooth tracks, their tires are narrow and inflated to high pressure reducing rolling resistance. Additionally, the bikes must comply with UCI Equipment Regulations.

What are the events?

There are six track events at the Olympics, and they can be categorised as either endurance or sprint.

Sprint events:

• Sprint – South Africans in action are Charlene du Preez and Jean Spies
• Team sprint
• Keirin – South Africans in action are Charlene du Preez and Jean Spies

Endurance events:

• Team pursuit
• Omnium – South African in action is David Maree
• Madison

Every discipline uses a different combination of teamwork, technique, speed, and strategy.

Sprint

Riders stare each other down at the start.

ANTHONY WALLACE Getty Images

The sprint, aka match sprint, is perhaps the most dramatic and combative track event. Two individual riders race each other in this classic short-distance race covering three laps of the track.

The qualifying phase consists of a 200m time trial with a flying start to determine the seeding of the 24 riders, fastest versus slowest. In a flying start, riders do a “free” lap around the track so they can get on top of their gearing. On the second lap around, the timer starts once they hit the 200m line, where they go full gas to the finish line in an attempt to record the fastest qualifying time. Starting in the quarterfinals, the riders race best of three heats.

The 200m Flying-Start Time Trial is used as a qualifier event for the sprint.

Rosael Torres-Davis

In this event, psychology tactics are applied before the race even starts; at the start line, opposing riders stare each other down through their mirror-finish lenses. Other tactics are also employed during the race to avoid taking the lead and bearing air resistance. Sometimes a rider will do a track stand, which means coming to a complete standstill in the middle of the race, in an attempt to force their rival to come forward. However, the final lap is always an all-out sprint for the line.

Team Sprint

Harrie Arnoldus Johannes Lavreysen and Jeffrey Joshua Gerardus Hoogland of the Netherlands compete in the team sprint event in the 2019 European Games.

Dean Mouhtaropoulos Getty Images

In the team sprint, two teams—two cyclists for the women and three for the men—each race three laps around the track. After every lap, the lead rider peels away and moves to the back of the paceline, allowing the next rider to face the air resistance. The race is a test of a team’s speed and coordination, and the winner is decided by the finishing time of the team’s last rider. In the case of a tie (to the closest one-thousandth of a second), the team with the fastest time over the final lap is declared the winner.

Keirin

The derny driver paces the riders for three laps in the kierin.

Ryan Pierse Getty Images

In the keirin, up to seven riders compete in a six-lap race. A motorised device or “derny” paces the riders for the first three laps, gradually increasing in speed as the cyclists manoeuvre for position and get on top of their heavy gears. The pacer accelerates to 50km/h and at three laps remaining, it pulls away to allow the riders to sprint in a wild dash for the finish. It is not unusual to see some elbow-rubbing, shoulder bumping, and even high-speed crashes in this event.

​​The keirin was developed in Japan around 1948 for gambling purposes, and it became an official event at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia.

Team Pursuit

The Great Britain women’s pursuit team overtakes the USA women’s team at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Harry Engels Getty Images

The team pursuit is a 4km race between two teams of four riders, who race to overtake the other team or beat their time. Each team starts out at opposite sides of the track, and, like in the team sprint, the riders take turns riding at the front. When the rider switches out, they swing right and up to slow down and get back into the rotation. It is fascinating teamwork to watch, and one of the most beautiful and collaborative displays of speed you will see.

Omnium

Great Britain’s Laura Trott in the women’s omnium of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

John Giles – PA Images Getty Images

The omnium is comprised of four bunch events: the scratch race, the tempo race, the elimination, and the points race. Riders race all events on the same day and are awarded points for their finishing position in each event.

After the first three events, the riders’ accumulated points are added up. During the fourth and final race, this total may increase or decrease according to the points won or lost by the rider in the points race. The winner is the rider with the highest total of points at the end of the points race.

Scratch race: The most straightforward format—all the riders start together and race to be the first over the finish line. The distance is 10km for men and 7.5km for women.

Tempo race: The riders race for 10km (for men) or 7.5km (for women), and the first rider across the line in each lap after the first four laps is awarded a point. Riders can also earn 20 points by lapping the field. The winner is the rider with the most points.

Men’s Omnium Elimination race at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games

GREG BAKER Getty Images

Elimination race: Also known as “Devil Take the Hindmost,” the last rider in the bunch is eliminated after every second lap, decided by the last rider’s rear wheel crossing the line. Riders wear transponders on their head tubes that light up if they are eliminated and signal that they must exit the track.

Points race: The riders race for 30km (men) or 20km (women), and are awarded points along the way. The first four finishers in these sprints are awarded 5, 3, 2, and 1 points, respectively. If a rider laps the field, they are awarded 20 points; and in the last lap, points are double, which can be a deciding factor for the podium. Any rider that loses a lap on the field has 20 points deducted from their total. This event involves the most strategy and math skills from the riders, as they have to be ultra-aware of which moves to follow, which to let go, and how many points they need to improve their overall placing.

Madison

Katie Archibald and Laura Kenny in action on their way to winning the Women’s Madison at the 2018 TISSOT UCI Track Cycling World Cup.

Bryn Lennon Getty Images

In the madison, each team sends two riders to race in a 50km (men) or 30km (women) endurance relay. While one team member races, the other slows down to rest before being thrown back into the action with a hand sling from their teammate.

The winner is calculated according to the number of points won. As in the points race, any team that gains a lap on the main bunch is awarded 20 points, while any team that is lapped by the bunch has 20 points deducted. Points awarded in the last sprint after the full distance are doubled (10 points, 6 points, 4 points, 2 points).

The madison was an Olympic event for men in 2000, 2004, and 2008 but was dropped ahead of the 2012 London Olympics, partly for reasons of equality as there was no equivalent race for women at the time. Finally, in Tokyo, both men and women will participate in the madison.

When to watch the track cycling

𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝟰 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 08h30 – 12h00 Men’s Sprint Qualifiers – Jean Spies Women’s Keirin Qualifiers – Charlene Du Preez 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝟱 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 08h30 – 12h00 Men’s Sprint Qualifiers – Jean Spies Women’s Keirin Qualifiers – Charlene Du Preez Men’s Omnium – David Maree 15:30 Men’s Omnium – Event 1, Scratch Race 16:27 Men’s Omnium – Event 2, Tempo Race 17:07 Men’s Omnium – Event 3, Elimination Race 17h45 Women’s Keirin Final 1- 6 17:55 Men’s Omnium – Event 4, Points Race 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝟲 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 08h30 – 12h30 Men’s Sprint Rounds – Jean Spies Women’s Sprint Rounds – Charlene Du Preez 18h00 Men’s Sprint Finals – Race 1 18h35 Men’s Sprint Finals – Race 2 18h50 Men’s Sprint Finals – Decider 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝟳 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 08h30 – 11h30 Men’s Keirin Rounds – Jean Spies Women’s Sprint Rounds – Charlene Du Preez 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝟴 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 10h00 – 13h00 Men’s Keirin Rounds – Jean Spies Woman’s Sprint Rounds – Charlene Du Preez 11h20 Women’s Sprint Finals – Race 1 11h45 Women’s Sprint Finals – Race 2 12h00 Men’s Keirin Final 1 – 6 12h25 Women’s Sprint Finals – Decider

More information on the start lists, race updates and official reports can be found at https://olympics.com/…/results/cycling-track/reports.htm