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and are more comfortable for spectators. They ride smoother and last longer. Despite the advantages of indoor tracks, outdoor velodromes are more common, as an outdoor venue does not require a building, making it more affordable, especially when new. Today, although many classic indoor tracks have been torn out of buildings and replaced by venues for more popular sports, velodromes are still sometimes built into indoor venues, particularly where track racing can generate enough revenue to cover the expense of dedicating a building to it.
191:, United Kingdom, built in 1877 by the British Army. Some were purpose-built just for cycling, and others were built as part of facilities for other sports; many were built around athletics tracks or other grounds and any banking was shallow. Reflecting the then-lack of international standards, sizes varied and not all were built as ovals: for example, Preston Park is 579 m (1,900 ft) long and features four straights linked by banked curves, while the 536 m (1,759 ft)
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593:, also known as 'match sprints', are short, highly tactical races involving two or three powerful track cyclists over a short course of three laps from a standing start, each trying to take advantage of drafting their opponent, or alternatively getting a gap to prevent their opponent drafting behind them, before breaking into an extremely fast final sprint for the line.
322:, allows riders to keep their bikes relatively perpendicular to the surface while riding at speed. When travelling through the turns at racing speed, which may exceed 85 km/h (52.8 mph), the banking attempts to match the natural lean of a bicycle moving through that curve. At the ideal speed, the net force of the
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events, an alternative means of victory is to 'catch' your opponent by making up the distance between the two start positions on opposite sides of the track. The flying lap was formally part of the Omnium event, but is now reserved for the qualification stage of match sprint events to determine seeding.
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assigns value to specific laps throughout a race, e.g. every tenth lap. Generally the leading rider and sometimes the second place rider will be awarded points. The structure and timing of points races varies greatly, but the winner is determined by the accumulation of points and not necessarily the
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Between the infield (sometimes referred to as an apron) and the actual track is the blue band (called "cĂ´te d'azur") which is typically 10% of the surface. The blue band is not technically a part of the track; although it is not illegal to ride there, moving into it to shortcut another rider results
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in which they balance the bicycle on the sloped surface while keeping their feet locked into the pedals. For these reasons, the banking tends to be 10 to 15 degrees less than physics predicts. Also, the straights are banked 10 to 15 degrees more than physics would predict. These compromises make the
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where the format was popular in the early 1900s. Since partners can trade as often as they like, this is a very busy race format, with half of the racers racing and half circulating around the track at any time. Historically the race was decided by which team had 'taken' the most laps, i.e. lapped
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team up pairs of riders in a tag-team format. Riders "sling" their teammate forward to facilitate alternating sprints that keep the pace very high during typically long races (30 km or 19 miles, or more, compared to 3–10 km or 1.9–6.2 mi for most other races). The name is taken from
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Velodromes may be indoors or outdoors. In the heyday of velodrome racing (1890–1920), indoor tracks were common. When hosting six-day races, they were popular for revellers and urban sophisticates to congregate in the early hours after the bars had closed. Indoor tracks are not affected by weather
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From the straight, the curve of the track increases gradually into the circular turn. This section of decreasing radius is called the easement spiral or transition. It allows bicycles to follow the track around the corner at a constant radial position. Thus riders can concentrate on tactics rather
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include team pursuit, team sprint, individual pursuit, kilo and 500 metre time trials, and the 200m flying lap. Cyclists or teams compete alone or in pairs against the clock alone, with times deciding the winner. In team events, drafting plays an important part in the discipline. while in pursuit
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Important cycling events are usually held on tracks which have lines laid out in a specified arrangement. Some other tracks also follow these protocols, but others have a different arrangement of lines to suit their facility and to assist riders in holding a straight line and in avoiding drifting
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competition assigns a point value to final standings of each race and riders accumulate points over the course of an event or series of events. This is not a specific race, but a competition that ties races and events together, and comparable to a heptathlon, decathlon in athletics, or modern
553:, from the phrase "devil take the hindmost", or "miss and out", removes the last place rider from each lap (every second lap on shorter tracks) until only a few riders, often the final two, remain. The final standings are then determined by a rolling start match sprint over the last two laps.
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in disqualification. During time trials, pursuits or other timed events, the blue band is obstructed with sponges or other objects. The blue band is a warning to cyclists that they may scrape their pedal along the infield when in a curve, which can easily result in a crash.
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Team Sprint, sprint, Keirin, Kilo and flying laps are generally considered 'sprinters' races, which in track cycling equate to extremely powerful, muscular riders over short distances, resulting in some historic overlap between BMX riders and track sprinters, such as
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20 centimetres (7.9 in) above the blue band is the black measurement line. The inner edge of this 5 centimetres (2.0 in) line defines the length of the track. 90 centimetres (35 in) above the inside of the track is the outside of the 5 cm wide red
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the field, with points or finishing position only used to separate ties. In modern
Madison racing, however, points scored in sprints decide the race, with a gained lap gaining a large points bonus. As a result, the Madison race is now essentially a team points race.
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The finish line is black on a wide white band and near the end of the home straight. Red lines are marked in the exact centre of each straight as start and finish line for pursuit races. A white 200 m line marks 200 metres (660 ft) before the finish.
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Velodrome tracks can be surfaced with different materials, including timber, synthetics and concrete. Shorter, newer, and
Olympic quality tracks tend to be timber or synthetics; longer, older, or inexpensive tracks are concrete, macadam, or even cinder.
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is a notable and unique event where a rider attempts to cover the furthest possible distance in one hour, as opposed to a set distance in the fastest time. This is not held as a championship event but as an occasional challenge event for an elite time
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Minimum 2.5 metres (8.2 ft) (or half the track width) above the inside of the track is the blue stayer's line. This line serves in races behind motorbikes as a separation line. Stayers below the blue line may not be overtaken on the inside. In
365:, have no brakes. They employ a single fixed rear gear, or cog, that does not freewheel. This helps maximise speed, reduces weight, and avoids sudden braking while nevertheless allowing the rider to slow by pushing back against the pedals.
483:'s line. The zone between black and red lines is sprinter's lane, which is the optimum route around the track. A rider leading in the sprinter's lane may not be passed on the inside; other riders must pass on the longer outside route.
624:. The other events are considered endurance events for riders with less outright power but greater aerobic ability, and such events have historically enjoyed an overlap with elite road racers, including road sprinters such as
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in New York City, New York and also known as "the
American"), the team's relief rider rests above the stayer's line by riding slowly until his or her teammate comes around the track and throws him or her back into the race.
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International
Calendar may be held in velodromes that measure between 133 and 500 m (436 and 1,640 ft) inclusive, with a length such that a whole or half number of laps give a distance of 1 km (0.62 mi).
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The smaller the track, the steeper the banking. A 250 m (820 ft) track banks around 45°, while a 333.33 m (1,093.6 ft) track banks around 32°. Some older velodromes were built to
171:. Modern velodromes feature steeply banked oval tracks, consisting of two 180-degree circular bends connected by two straights. The straights transition to the circular turn through a moderate
241:, used in 1952, were both 400 m (1,312 ft). By the 1960s up to 1989, tracks of 333.33 m (1,094 ft) length were commonly used for international competitions (e.g.: the
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architects in
Germany have built more than 125 tracks worldwide. Most of Schuermann's outdoor tracks are made of wood trusswork with a surface of strips of the rare rain-forest wood
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pentathlon. Four endurance events comprise the current
Olympic and World Championship Omnium: Scratch, Tempo, Elimination and Points race and must be completed within a day.
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There are a variety of formats in velodrome races. A typical event will consist of several races of varying distances and structures. Common types of races include:
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rider crossing the line first at the end of the race. Standard points races can have sprints every ten laps with the first three or four riders scoring, while
606:. The Derny gradually accelerates until the last lap and a half when it pulls off the track, leading to a sprint for the finish to determine the winner.
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199:, has a single straight linked by one long curve. The oldest surviving regular velodrome two-straight oval tracks is from 1889, located in
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Riders are not always travelling at full speed or at a specific radius. Most events have riders all over the track. Team races (like the
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is the most straightforward type of race where riders compete over a specified distance and the order of finish determines the winners.
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award a single point to the sprint winner, but award a point every lap, sharing the attritional quality of the
Elimination race.
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333:) have some riders at speed and others riding more slowly. In match sprints riders may come to a stop by performing a
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led to more standardisation: two-straight oval tracks quickly became the norm, and gradually lap lengths reduced. The
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is only 142 m (466 ft) and has especially steep banking because it was built to fit inside an aircraft
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265:). Since 1990, such events are usually held on velodromes with 250 m (820 ft 2.52 in) laps.
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326:(outward) and gravity (downward) is angled down through the bicycle, perpendicular to the riding surface.
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Indoor velodromes were also common particularly in the late 19th and early 20th century. For example, the
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The track is measured along a line 20 cm (7.9 in) up from the bottom. Olympic and
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in 1909 and featured a 250 m (820.2 ft) indoor track with a wooden surface.
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onto the flatter section below the bankings where they risk their tyres sliding out.
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The first velodromes were constructed during the late 1870s, the oldest of which is
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This article is about velodromes. For physically separated bike lanes, see
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velodromes must measure 250 m (820 ft). Other events on the
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both have a 250 m track and a 6,000-seat spectator capacity.
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involve pacing 6 to 9 sprint riders with a motorcycle known as a
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Calshot velodrome with
Woolwich CC cyclists riding round banking
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Modern velodromes are constructed by specialised designers. The
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34:. For the multi-purpose stadium in Marseille, France, see
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71:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
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794:UCI Cycling Regulations, Part III: Track Races
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361:Bicycles for velodromes, better known as
131:Learn how and when to remove this message
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640:and more recent Tour de France winners
221:International competitions such as the
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1097:List of cycling tracks and velodromes
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684:List of cycling tracks and velodromes
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69:adding citations to reliable sources
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450:USA, is 0.2 miles or 321.9 m.
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263:Track Cycling World Championships
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243:AgustĂn Melgar Olympic Velodrome
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294:Valley Preferred Cycling Center
267:London's 2012 Olympic velodrome
56:needs additional citations for
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722:"The History of Track Cycling"
491:(named after six-day races at
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318:Banking in the turns, called
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235:VĂ©lodrome d'Anvers Zuremborg
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298:Breinigsville, Pennsylvania
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917:Junior World Championships
772:"History of track cycling"
261:used at the 1970 and 1982
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820:www.dicklanevelodrome.com
816:"The Dick Lane Velodrome"
346:Bicycles and track design
912:Para-World Championships
357:on an outdoor velodrome
27:Arena for track cycling
973:Track Champions League
927:European Championships
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259:Saffron Lane velodrome
227:VĂ©lodrome de Vincennes
185:Preston Park Velodrome
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1123:Sports venues by type
978:Olympic Track Cycling
937:British Championships
632:, Grand Tour legends
564:Madison Square Garden
493:Madison Square Garden
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409:Forest City Velodrome
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308:Forest City Velodrome
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547:, also known as the
251:1968 Summer Olympics
237:, used in 1920, and
193:Portsmouth velodrome
65:improve this article
946:Other annual events
922:Asian Championships
892:World Championships
726:www.asgardsss.co.uk
689:Outline of bicycles
440:Dick Lane Velodrome
149:Dunc Gray Velodrome
1029:Motor-paced racing
994:Individual pursuit
837:List of velodromes
694:Outline of cycling
674:Board track racing
504:Track construction
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381:World Championship
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391:The velodrome at
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285:Technical aspects
212:VĂ©lodrome d'hiver
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774:. 2005-12-13
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679:Cycle track
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80:"Velodrome"
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747:"Velodrom"
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1075:See also
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756:29 April
652:See also
581:The Hour
481:sprinter
314:, Canada
279:Ashgabat
189:Brighton
1024:Madison
590:Sprints
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1049:Omnium
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