There are many events held on tracks around the world all with their own special name, some of which are completely bizarre (Devil Take the Hindmost is one!) but that’s the fun of track racing -- it isn't always a serious business! In the glossary below are a list of common events held in events on tracks in cycling.

Be warned, organisers however will come up with their own variations of events just to confuse you! In really simple terms, there are short and long events. Example of short ones are the Sprint, Team Sprint, Keirin and Time Trials (kilo/500m) while longer ones, called endurance events, are the Points, Pursuit, Scratch races and so on.

SPRINT EVENTS
Time Trial (Kilo and 500 metres): The one chance saloon! A time trial against the watch.

Team Sprint (men and women): Team Time trial (3 riders) with the fastest team winning.

Keirin (men and women): The kierin is a race in which riders sprint for the line after completing a series of laps behind a single motorbike pacer (derny).

Match Sprint: The Sprint is the oldest championship discipline still practised and features in all International championships and for all categories.

Handicap: Distances vary and riders are given their ‘marks’ which are spaced out around the track according to ability & previous results.

ENDURANCE EVENTS
Devil take the Hindmost (men and women): The last rider across the finish line on specific laps is called out by the judges.

Italian Team Pursuit (men and women): Italian Pursuit (men and women): Like a team pursuit (where there are normally only four riders) but the 'Italian' version is made up of two large groups of riders. As each rider does a turn, they pull off until its a one-on-one race to the finish line at the end. The team that completes the set distance the quickest, is the winner.

Omnium (men and women): Not one but a series of events (Sprint, Pursuit, Time Trial for example) where points are awarded to the riders and the rider with the most points wins after all the events, is declared the winner.

Motor-paced/Derny Race: These are run as scratch races, but each rider is ‘paced’ by a motor-bike.

Individual Pursuit (men and women): Great Britain has a long tradition of doing well in this event.

Team Pursuit: Another event where this country has a proud tradition.

Points Race: The rider with the most points at the end of the race. Keep your eye on the scoreboard and tally up the points!

Madison: And the winner is the team who have the most points at the finish or are ahead on laps.

Scratch Race: Quite a simple one this. A group of riders race over a distance of say 20km (it varies from event to event, men and women) and the first one across the line wins. They start together in a group and in Sydney this year (2003), sprinter Vicki Pendleton was able to go the distance and come the sprint, was able to beat the endurance riders to the line. She did the same at the nationals. In 2002, Tony Gibb of Great Britain won a silver medal.

Unknown Distance: Basically, this is a scratch race where the riders don’t know what the distance is until the bell goes to signify the last lap!

(Copyright British Cycling - www.britishcycling.org.uk)