Track cycling rules rules, for watching
Start with the rules you see all the time, then the ones that change results.
Settling an argument? Search all 16 rules
- What are the different events in track cycling?
- How does the sprint work in track cycling, and why do the riders go so slowly at first?
- What are the rules about moving across the track in a sprint?
- What is the keirin, and what is the motorbike for?
- How does the team sprint work?
- What are the kilometre time trial and the flying 200 metres?
- How does the individual pursuit work?
- How does the team pursuit work, and why does the third rider matter?
- What happens after a false start, a puncture or a crash in a track race?
- What does it mean to gain a lap in a track race?
- How does the points race work?
- What is the Madison, and how do the hand-slings work?
- What is a scratch race?
- How does the elimination race work?
- What is a tempo race?
- How does the omnium work?
Where these rules come from
| Tag | Document |
|---|---|
| UCI plus article number | Union Cycliste Internationale, Cycling Regulations, Part 3: Track Races, with the amendments applying on 1 January 2026. Read for this set: chapter I (organisation) and chapter II sections 1 to 11, 14 and 16 to 18 (general provisions, 200 metres time trial, sprint, individual and team pursuit, kilometre, points race, keirin, team sprint, Madison, scratch, elimination, omnium, flying lap, tempo) |
| R | "Why the rule exists", or a point reasoned from the rule, not stated in it |
| C | Common usage or general knowledge, not a rule |
All checked on 14 October 2026. The English lines were read; the Japanese lines were filtered out.
Not covered: tandem, motor-pacing and six-day races (chapter II sections 12, 13 and 15); rankings, the World Cup, world records, equipment and infrastructure, teams, the calendar and masters (chapters III to IX); the table of race incidents (chapter X), so fines and most penalties are not given; the track's markings and dimensions, which are in chapter VI; Part 1 of the UCI regulations (the bicycle with its fixed gear, and the helmet).
Not covered: tandem, motor-pacing and six-day races (chapter II sections 12, 13 and 15); rankings, the World Cup, world records, equipment and infrastructure, teams, the calendar and masters (chapters III to IX); the table of race incidents (chapter X), so fines and most penalties are not given; the track's markings and dimensions, which are in chapter VI; Part 1 of the UCI regulations (the bicycle with its fixed gear, and the helmet).