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February 118, 2023
Track Cycling – European Championship 2023 – DAY 4 – Grenchen, Switzerland
Ever since they were first added to the track cycling calendar in 2010,
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February 118, 2023
Track Cycling – European Championship 2023 – DAY 4 – Grenchen, Switzerland
Ever since they were first added to the track cycling calendar in 2010, the UEC European Track Championships have attracted hosts of the continent’s best riders to their events to compete for the coveted blue bands and golden stars. This year’s Championships in Grenchen, Switzerland, will take place at the start of February, just six short months after the previous Championships drew to a close. Over 200 riders will take to the boards of the world-famous Tissot Velodrome between February 8th and 12th, 2023.
Events :
Individual Sprint: The oldest and simplest track event of them all. Two riders set off from the same startline and battle against one another across three laps of the 250m-long track. The first two laps are often ridden very tactically, with riders sometimes coming to a complete stop as they compete for each other’s slipstream. The last lap is then ridden at a frenzied pace as the two riders unleash their powerful sprints.
The first rider across the line wins the round, although that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’ll be crowned the winner come the end. The same two riders will sprint against each other across three rounds, with the first to win two rounds declared the winner and advancing to the next phase – the quarter finals, semi finals or the final itself.
Team Sprint: This event sees two teams of three sprinters facing off against each other over three laps of the velodrome. At the start, the teams line up on opposite sides of the track before sprinting out of the gate once the starting gun is fired. After each lap is completed, the lead rider will pull off and release their teammate(s) from behind. The first rider to cross the line wins the event for their team.
Keirin: This Sprint Event can trace its roots back to Japan where it was first created as a race for punters to gamble on. Between three and seven riders compete across six laps of the track, although the first three of these are ridden behind a motorised ‘derny’ bike which gradually ramps up the speed – from 30-50 km/h in the men’s race and 25-45 km/h in the women’s race – before peeling off to let the sprinters have at it.
Positioning behind the derny in the early parts of the race is paramount and we often see riders rubbing shoulders as they fight for the best position. A rider’s starting position is decided by a draw and they must hold this position behind the derny for at least one lap before trying to move up. After three laps, the derny leaves the track and the action begins – whoever crosses the line first wins, simple.
Kilo: ‘The Kilo’, or 1km Time Trial, is a solo event where riders attempt to set the fastest time over four laps of the track. Riders set off from a standing start and have to get up to speed quickly if they’re to stand any chance of setting the fastest time. As a short, high-intensity event, it often favours the sprinters. The women’s event is ridden over 500m, or two laps of the track.
Individual Pursuit: Riders start at opposite ends of the track and then chase each other around for a distance of 4km (men) or 3km (women). The rider who sets the fastest time, or the one who catches their opponent, is declared the winner. The rider who loses the race is then eliminated from the event, while the winner will progress through the various knockout stages until the final.
Team Pursuit: In a similar format to the individual pursuit, the team that sets the fastest time over 4km, or the one which catches the opposing team, wins the race. Though each team will start with four riders, it is only necessary for three riders to finish, as the time is measured after the first three riders have crossed the finish line.
Scratch Race: The scratch race is a race in its truest form. Riders race in one big bunch around the track, with the first across the line being declared the winner. The men’s race comprises 60 laps of the track (15km), while the women’s comprises 40 (10km).
Points Race: The points race is a mass start race where the men compete over 160 laps of the track (40km) and the women over 100 (25km). Every 10 laps there is a sprint where the first four riders across the line are awarded 5, 3, 2 and 1 points respectively. The last sprint awards double points to the first four riders over the line, which can dramatically shuffle the standings. Riders can also gain 20 points by lapping the field, or alternatively lose 20 points by being lapped by the field themselves. The rider with the most points at the end of the race wins.
Elimination Race: The elimination race is another mass start race where groups of 15-20 riders set off together and race a predetermined number of laps around the track, depending on how many riders are competing in the event. After every two laps, the last-placed rider across the finish line is withdrawn from the race. One by one, the bunch is whittled down to just two riders who then go on to sprint for 1st and 2nd place.
Madison: The Madison, named after Madison Square Garden in New York, where the event was first held, is similar to a Points Race but features two riders in a team rather than one. One rider in the team is always active, while the other continues to ride around the top of the track at a much slower pace. When the active rider needs a breather, around every lap and a half or so, they use the ‘hand-sling’ technique to launch their teammate into the action before taking their place at the top of the track
The men’s race is 50km-long, or 200 laps of the track, while the women’s is 30km-long, or 120 laps. After every 10 laps intermediate sprints are held, with 5 points handed out to the winner, followed by 3, 2 and 1 for the next three over the line. On the final lap of the race the sprint points are doubled. It’s also possible to gain 20 points by lapping the main group. Conversely, those teams who are dropped from the main group and then lapped will lose 20 points. The team with the most points at the end of the race wins.
Omnium: This event consists of a scratch race, an elimination race, a tempo race and a points race, making it the most dynamic of all of the track cycling events. For the results of the first three competitions in the omnium, fixed numbers of points are awarded according to the placings. The points gained in the final points race are then added to the account of the rider. The rider with the highest number of points in their account at the end of the event is declared the overall winner.
 from behind. The first rider to cross the line wins the event for their team.
Keirin: This Sprint Event can trace its roots back to Japan where it was first created as a race for punters to gamble on. Between three and seven riders compete across six laps of the track, although the first three of these are ridden behind a motorised ‘derny’ bike which gradually ramps up the speed - from 30-50 km/h in the men’s race and 25-45 km/h in the women’s race - before peeling off to let the sprinters have at it.
Positioning behind the derny in the early parts of the race is paramount and we often see riders rubbing shoulders as they fight for the best position. A rider’s starting position is decided by a draw and they must hold this position behind the derny for at least one lap before trying to move up. After three laps, the derny leaves the track and the action begins - whoever crosses the line first wins, simple.
Kilo: ‘The Kilo’, or 1km Time Trial, is a solo event where riders attempt to set the fastest time over four laps of the track. Riders set off from a standing start and have to get up to speed quickly if they’re to stand any chance of setting the fastest time. As a short, high-intensity event, it often favours the sprinters. The women’s event is ridden over 500m, or two laps of the track.
Individual Pursuit: Riders start at opposite ends of the track and then chase each other around for a distance of 4km (men) or 3km (women). The rider who sets the fastest time, or the one who catches their opponent, is declared the winner. The rider who loses the race is then eliminated from the event, while the winner will progress through the various knockout stages until the final.
Team Pursuit: In a similar format to the individual pursuit, the team that sets the fastest time over 4km, or the one which catches the opposing team, wins the race. Though each team will start with four riders, it is only necessary for three riders to finish, as the time is measured after the first three riders have crossed the finish line.
Scratch Race: The scratch race is a race in its truest form. Riders race in one big bunch around the track, with the first across the line being declared the winner. The men’s race comprises 60 laps of the track (15km), while the women’s comprises 40 (10km).
Points Race: The points race is a mass start race where the men compete over 160 laps of the track (40km) and the women over 100 (25km). Every 10 laps there is a sprint where the first four riders across the line are awarded 5, 3, 2 and 1 points respectively. The last sprint awards double points to the first four riders over the line, which can dramatically shuffle the standings. Riders can also gain 20 points by lapping the field, or alternatively lose 20 points by being lapped by the field themselves. The rider with the most points at the end of the race wins.
Elimination Race: The elimination race is another mass start race where groups of 15-20 riders set off together and race a predetermined number of laps around the track, depending on how many riders are competing in the event. After every two laps, the last-placed rider across the finish line is withdrawn from the race. One by one, the bunch is whittled down to just two riders who then go on to sprint for 1st and 2nd place.
Madison: The Madison, named after Madison Square Garden in New York, where the event was first held, is similar to a Points Race but features two riders in a team rather than one. One rider in the team is always active, while the other continues to ride around the top of the track at a much slower pace. When the active rider needs a breather, around every lap and a half or so, they use the 'hand-sling' technique to launch their teammate into the action before taking their place at the top of the track
The men’s race is 50km-long, or 200 laps of the track, while the women’s is 30km-long, or 120 laps. After every 10 laps intermediate sprints are held, with 5 points handed out to the winner, followed by 3, 2 and 1 for the next three over the line. On the final lap of the race the sprint points are doubled. It's also possible to gain 20 points by lapping the main group. Conversely, those teams who are dropped from the main group and then lapped will lose 20 points. The team with the most points at the end of the race wins.
Omnium: This event consists of a scratch race, an elimination race, a tempo race and a points race, making it the most dynamic of all of the track cycling events. For the results of the first three competitions in the omnium, fixed numbers of points are awarded according to the placings. The points gained in the final points race are then added to the account of the rider. The rider with the highest number of points in their account at the end of the event is declared the overall winner.
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