TRACK RACING

WHAT IS TRACK RACING?

Track racing is a bicycle sport usually held on specially built banked tracks or velodromes consisting of two straights with slightly banked turns in both ends.

THE DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES IN TRACK RACING INCLUDE:

• Time Trial:
  Pure race of stamina and power. The rider with the fastest recorded time wins - simple as that.

• Sprint:
  Tactical race over three laps, though only the last 200m is timed. The winner of each race is the first to cross the finish line.

• Individual Pursuit:
  Starting on opposite sides of the track from each other, two cyclists attempt to win by catching the other rider or by recording the fastest time.

• Team Pursuit:
  A race over 4km in teams of four riders. The basic rules are the same as for Individual Pursuit.

• Points Race:
  The aim is to accumulate the most points over the course of one 40km race (25km for women). The first four riders across the finishing line every tenth lap score points; 5 for first, 3 for second, 2 for third, and 1 for fourth. The race winner is the one with the most points.

• Team Sprint:
  The teams consisting of three riders start on opposite sides of the track similar to pursuit races, and each of the three team members leads for one lap. The team finishes when the third rider crosses the line and the winning team is the one with the fastest time.

Track Racing is ridden on a fixed gear bike i.e. a single gear and neither freewheel nor brakes.

The tyres are narrow and inflated to high pressure.

A track frame is specific to its use. Rigidity is more important than lightness.

​Frames for sprinting are as rigid as possible, while those for general racing are as aerodynamic as possible.