The track cycling lexicon for the European Championships: What are scratch, omnium, keirin?
European Track Cycling Championships 2024 in the Netherlands
There are a variety of track cycling competitions in which gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded at the European Championships in Apeldoorn from 10 to 14 January. We explain the technical terms of track cycling on the occasion of the title fights in the Netherlands.
Scratch
This track cycling discipline is held as a mass start of a larger field and is relatively easy to understand. A certain number of laps (e.g. 40) are completed, and whoever crosses the finish line first, second and third after this long distance wins the medals. Winning a lap gives you a big advantage.
Keirin
Also known in specialist circles as the "combat sprint" and is a track cycling discipline that originated in Japan. Usually six riders compete over a six-lap distance, with a pacemaker leading the first half of the race and gradually increasing the pace over this period. On the last three laps, the race is then free and open, with a certain number of athletes progressing.
Points race for track cycling
This is also a mass start. Points can be collected for a specific position at predetermined points. Athletes who win a lap can secure an additional 20 points. The winner is the starter with the most points collected.
Omnium
There are four sub-disciplines in the Omnium, which are all held on the same day. This track cycling competition includes scratch (see above), the tempo race (at the end of each lap there is a point for the leader, plus 20 points for lapping the peloton), the elimination race, in which the last rider in the field is eliminated every two laps, and the points race. This is similar to the speed race, but is held over a longer distance. In addition, points are not awarded every lap, but at longer intervals.
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