How do elimination and points races work in roller speed skating?
I · Intermediate · Pack races, start and finish · 1 of 3In an elimination race the last skater, or the last two, over the line at set laps is knocked out, and the order at the end decides the medals. In a points race skaters score at set sprints and the highest total wins. Neither starts eliminating or scoring in the first 1,000 m. A bell rings a lap before each sprint.
How it works
- Elimination: the last one or two over the line at fixed laps go out.
- Who is last: decided by the last part of the last skate.
- Leaving for any reason: counts as that elimination.
- Points race: points at set sprints, more on the last lap.
- Lapped or not finishing: in a points race, all points lost.
- Points tie: whoever was first over the line on the last lap.
- Points and elimination: both at once; an eliminated skater loses their points.
- No sprints in the first 1,000 m: except the 5,000 m points race.
The glossary has the elimination race, the points race, the points and elimination race, the bell and lap counter, the pack and the lapped skater.
Tricky cases
An eliminated skater keeps skating. What happens?
After the third announcement they are disqualified for a sports fault.
Several skaters fall together during an elimination race. Are they all out?
Eliminations can be suspended for some laps; the speaker says when they restart.
How many skaters finish a track 10,000 m elimination final?
From 2026, five after the last elimination, to race for the medals.
A skater breaks a rule in an elimination sprint. Can they be eliminated instead?
Yes. The Chief Judge may eliminate them in place of the last skater.
Why the rule exists
Eliminations and sprints force the pack to race all the way rather than wait for the last lap. Losing points when lapped stops skaters scoring and then dropping out.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Track 10,000 m elimination | Five finishers; 30 to 36 in the final | Art 199 |
| 5,000 m points | Sprints from the start | Art 119.1 |
| Small fields | First eliminations dropped | Art 120.4; 199.1 |
From the rule book
World Skate, Speed Rulebook 2026, Articles 117 to 120, 137, 139.4 and 199. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the World Skate Speed Rulebook 2026.