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Encyclopedia > Sprint (cycling)

The sprint is a track cycling event involving a one-on-one match race between opponents who, unlike in the individual pursuit, start next to each other. Track cycling is a bicycle racing sport usually held on specially-built banked tracks or velodromes (but many events are held at older velodromes where the track banking is relatively shallow) using track bicycles. ... In track cycling, the individual pursuit is an event where two cyclists begin their race from a stationary position (nowadays held by gates, in the past, riders were supported by track officials until the starting gun fired) on opposite sides of the track. ...


At major championships, the title is decided on a 'best of three races' format. The initial races may involve more than two riders, with the winners automatically advancing to the next round while the losing riders get a second chance by competing in repechage races.


The event is sometimes called the 1000 metre sprint (reflecting the distance to be covered), but - unlike the sprints in athletics - cycling track sprinters do not start sprinting from the starting line, and also there are no lanes. The early parts of each race will often be highly tactical with riders pedalling slowly, as they carefully watch each other and try to get their rivals to make the first move. Some even bring their bicycles to a complete stop, balanced upright with both feet still on the pedals (a track stand, in an attempt to make the other rider take the lead. The reason for this apparently strange behaviour, like many track cycling events, is aerodynamics. The metre, or meter (US), is a measure of length. ... Sprints are races in athletics. ... A womens 400 metre hurdles race on a typical outdoor red rubber track. ... The track stand is a method that bicycle riders can use to stay balanced on their bicycles without putting a foot down and while moving only minimal distances. ... Aerodynamics (shaping of objects that affect the flow of air, liquid or gas) is a branch of fluid dynamics concerned with the study of forces and gas flows. ...


When racing at high speed, the rider who manages to stay just behind their opponent can 'slipstream', expending less effort (as they are riding through air that is being pulled along behind the 'lead out' rider, this reduces the speed of the wind the second rider feels). Just before the finish, the trailing rider pulls out of the slipstream, and using their fresher legs may be able to overtake their opponent just before the line. (Of course, some riders choose to accelerate quickly before the last lap, hoping to catch their opponents unawares and establish a large enough gap to negate the aerodynamic effect!) dddeath ...


Only the last 200 m is actually timed (on a 250 m track, the event would therefore involve four circuits of the track). The final 200 m is measured along a 'sprint line' close to the inside edge of the track. The 'lead out' rider will often hug this line forcing his opponent to come the long way round; he is not allowed to swing significantly off this line and deliberately impede his opponent.


Famous track sprinters of the past include Britain's Reg Harris, Australians Dunc Gray and Sid Patterson, Germany's Michael Hubner and Japan's Koichi Nakano. Reginald - Reg - Hargreaves Harris (March 1, 1920 - June 22, 1992) was a leading British track racing cyclist in the 1940s and 1950s. ... Edgar L. Dunc Gray (July 17, 1906 - 30 August 1996) was a track cyclist from Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia who won Australias first Olympic Games medal in cycling at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam: a bronze medal for the 1000m Time Trial. ... Sid Patterson (14 August 1927 - 29 November 1999) was a world champion amateur and professional track cyclist from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. ... Koichi Nakano (中野浩一 b. ...

Contents

Keirin

The Keirin is a variant of the sprint with a higher number (usually 6-8, or 9 in Japan) of sprinters compete in a very different format. Riders are paced in the early laps by (and required to stay behind) a derny motorcycle, which slowly increases the speed of the race from 25km/h to about 50km/h and leaves the track with about 600-700 meters remaining. The first rider across the finish line in the high-speed (sometimes 70 km/h) finish is the winner. Keirin is a track cycling event in which racing cyclists sprint for victory. ... A Derny is a type of motorcycle designed and built specifically for motor-paced track cycling events (eg: motor-paced races in six-Day and Keirin racing) or motor-paced road races. ...


Olympic sprint

Despite its name, the Olympic sprint (also known as the team sprint) is not a conventional match sprint contest but a type of short distance three-man team pursuit held over three laps of a velodrome. Like the (much longer) team pursuit event, two teams race against each other, starting on opposite sides of the track. At the end of the first lap, the leading rider in each team drops out of the race by riding up the banking leaving the second rider to lead for the second lap; at the end of the second lap, the second rider does the same, leaving the third rider to complete the last lap on his own. The Olympic Sprint is a track cycling event, a three-man team time trial held over three laps of a velodrome. ... The team pursuit is a track cycling event similar to the individual pursuit, except that two teams, each of four riders, compete, starting on opposite sides of the velodrome. ... Bicycle racing on a velodrome A velodrome is a sporting arena purpose-built for track cycling, i. ... The team pursuit is a track cycling event similar to the individual pursuit, except that two teams, each of four riders, compete, starting on opposite sides of the velodrome. ...


Chariot

The chariot is a short, usually one lap, race. Depending on track size, between 4 and 8 cyclists start from a standing start, and do an all out sprint for one lap. The first rider aross the finish line is the winner.


See also


  Results from FactBites:
 
Sprint (cycling) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (599 words)
The sprint is a track cycling event involving a one-on-one match race between opponents who, unlike in the individual pursuit, start next to each other.
The Keirin is a variant of the sprint with a higher number (usually 6-8, or 9 in Japan) of sprinters compete in a very different format.
Despite its name, the Olympic sprint (also known as the team sprint) is not a conventional match sprint contest but a type of short distance three-man team pursuit held over three laps of a velodrome.
Roadcycling.com - Cycling News - Sprint to Win (1485 words)
Sprinting is often an area of cycling riders either relish or shy away from.
That is, a short burst of acceleration, then a short period where the sprint effort levels off, and then a final surge to the line.
This is one of the best ways to simulate high-speed sprint finishes when you don’t have the benefit of a leadout or charging field of riders.
  More results at FactBites »


 

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