Track racing dates back to the end of the nineteenth century. The first World Championships were held in 1893. Track cyclists are powerful athletes, generally with far more muscle bulk than “road racers”.
Ten events divided into three famillies:
Individual sprint is part of the Olympic programme.
Qualification 200m time trials are followed by knockout heats of 3 laps that select the best two riders to line up against each other in the final. Riders sometimes come to a standstill to make their opponent take the lead – the least advantageous position before the final sprint to the finish line.
Team sprint is part of the Olympic programme.
This is raced by teams of three over three laps of the track. Two teams start on opposite sides of the track, with each rider leading for a lap before peeling off. The final remaining rider for each team sprints for the finish to establish the team’s 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.
Keirin is part of the Olympic programme.
Riders follow in the slipstream of a pacing motorbike for 750m before undertaking a three-lap sprint to the end. The motorbike gradually increases the speed from 30 to 50 km/h before pulling off the track to allow the sprint to begin.
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.
Team pursuit is part of the Olympic programme.
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 part in this relay race contested by means of intermediary sprints (every 10 laps). While one team member races, the other slows down to take a rest before being thrown back into the action with a hand sling from his/her team mate. The classification is calculated according to the number of points won. As with 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).
This is a mass-start race for individual riders over 15km for men and 10km for women. The first lap is neutralised.
The Omnium is made up of 4 bunch events raced on the same day: scratch race, tempo race, elimination and points race. Riders must show consistency throughout the day to have a chance of topping the final classification as points are awarded based on the rank for each event and a general classification is generated at the end of the 4 races. The points won in the final points race are directly added to the intermediate classification creating reversals of situations and suspense until the last sprint where points are doubled.
Historical of the World Records
Men Elite - World Records
Women Elite - World Records
Men Juniors - World Records
Women Juniors - World Records
UCI Hour Record - Checklist
Historical of the Olympic Records
Men - Olympic Records
Women - Olympic Records
Best Performances
Men - Best performances
Women - Best performances
UCI Best Performance - Checklist
Palmarès
UCI Track Cycling World Championships - Palmarès - Elite
UCI Junior Track Cycling World Championships - Palmarès
Champions List
Latest Elite World and Continental Champions
Latest Junior World and Continental Champions