Track is one of the purest forms of bike racing. With no brakes, gears or potholes to worry about, all a track rider needs to concentrate on is beating their opponents. It is an ideal place for a young cyclist to start as a banked cycling track provides a traffic and pedestrian free environment on which to learn key cycling skills and tactics.
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There are many different types of races on the track – several of which are explained in our guide to track racing – all of which will be classified as either a sprint or endurance event. Like road cycling, it means there’s a race to suit every type of rider – except climbers.
Although track racing doesn’t have the major annual events like the Tour de France to boost its appeal, it is the cornerstone of cycling in the Olympic movement with events such as the team pursuit and sprint dating back to the the early 19 hundreds. The International calendar of World Cups runs through the winter, culminating with the world championships in February or March, while events on outdoor tracks continue through the summer, making it a year-round sport.
Key riders: Laura Trott (GBR) | Jason Kenny (GBR) | Sir Bradley Wiggins (GBR) | Anna Meares (AUS) | Francois Pervis (FRA)
Key reading: British Cycling’s lottery funded revolution | Sir Chris Hoy’s medal tally
Emily Nelson took the first gold medal for the British team at the 2019 UEC European Track Championships, as Elia Viviani also took a title on the opening day of racing.
Eurosport will be showing extensive coverage of the European Track Championships over the next five days
Mark Cavendish will continue his track cycling comeback at the Ghent Six Day next month.
Mark Cavendish will make his return to the track at the Six Day London later this year.
Elia Viviani will make his track return at the Six Day London later this year.
The UCI has released further details for its track cycling shake-up, but still hasn’t addressed concerns raised by trade teams.
A Dutch track team have joined the fight against the UCI plans to bar trade outfits from World Cup events.
The news that trade teams would be barred from racing track World Cup events has been met with uproar from one outfit in particular - the British Huub-Wattbike squad.
British track riders from the Huub-Wattbike team have criticised the UCI over its decision to bar trade teams from racing World Cup events.
The UCI has announced a major overhaul of the track cycling calendar, which will see trade teams barred from riding World Cup events.
Sercu died at the age of 74 on Friday
With a year and a half to go to the Olympics, the British team have their work cut out as other nations pull away on big gears
Olympic champion Callum Skinner is calling time on his elite track cycling career, after 11 years in the sport.
Track star Laura Kenny says the British squad "have to come together as a team" ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
The HUUB Wattbike rider believes his riders are good enough to represent Great Britain at the 2020 Olympic Games, but the current selection process means the odds are stacked against a rider not on the British cycling team
A Kiwi track rider was frustrated to learn he would not be eligible to compete in the World Championships, hours before he was due to leave for Poland.
The British line-up for the track cycling World Championships, with big names including Katie Archibald, Ed Clancy and Ethan Hayter taking to the boards.
Australian duo Kelland O’Brien and Leigh Howard took the overall win at Six Day Melbourne after a crash took out their rivals.
Aussie pairing Sam Welsford and Cameron Scott hold the lead at Six Day Melbourne after the second night of racing.
The first night of Six Day Melbourne saw home stars Sam Welsford and Cameron Scott take a substantial lead over their nearest rivals.
The 2019 Six Day Berlin came down to the final laps, as home favourites Roger Kluge and Theo Reinhardt sealed the overall victory.
The penultimate night of racing at Six Day Berlin was a tumultuous affair as the battle for the general classification continues.
Returning track sprinter Shanaze Reade has said her return to racing is about “closure” after an unsatisfactory end to her career.
The fourth night of Six Day Berlin saw unpredictable racing continue as Marc Hester and Jesper Mørkøv regained their lead.
