Track cycling explained: the disciplines, the bikes and how racing works

Track cycling packs some of the most explosive and tactical racing in the sport into a few laps of a steep wooden velodrome. From the raw power of the sprint and keirin to the endurance of the points race and madison, each discipline rewards a different blend of speed, timing and nerve.

The bikes are stripped to the essentials: a single fixed gear, no brakes, and geometry built for holding a line at speed. This guide walks through the main events and what makes each one worth watching.