Editing Velodrome (section)

== Race formats ==
There are a variety of formats in velodrome races. A typical event will consist of several races of varying distances and structures. Common types of races include:
*'''[[Scratch race]]''' is the most straightforward type of race where riders compete over a specified distance and the order of finish determines the winners.
*'''[[Points race]]''' assigns value to specific laps throughout a race, e.g. every tenth lap. Generally the leading rider and sometimes the second place rider will be awarded points. The structure and timing of points races varies greatly, but the winner is determined by the accumulation of points and not necessarily the rider crossing the line first at the end of the race. Standard points races can have sprints every ten laps with the first three or four riders scoring, while [[Tempo race]]s award a single point to the sprint winner, but award a point every lap, sharing the attritional quality of the Elimination race.
*'''[[Elimination race]]''', also known as the '''''Devil''''', from the phrase "devil take the hindmost", or "miss and out", removes the last place rider from each lap (every second lap on shorter tracks) until only a few riders, often the final two, remain. The final standings are then determined by a rolling start match sprint over the last two laps.
*[[Madison (cycling)|'''Madison races''']] team up pairs of riders in a tag-team format. Riders "sling" their teammate forward to facilitate alternating sprints that keep the pace very high during typically long races ({{convert|30|km|mi|abbr=in|disp=or}}, or more, compared to {{convert|3|-|10|km|mi|abbr=on|disp=or}} for most other races). The name is taken from [[Madison Square Garden]] where the format was popular in the early 1900s. Since partners can trade as often as they like, this is a very busy race format, with half of the racers racing and half circulating around the track at any time. Historically the race was decided by which team had 'taken' the most laps, i.e. lapped the field, with points or finishing position only used to separate ties. In modern Madison racing, however, points scored in sprints decide the race, with a gained lap gaining a large points bonus. As a result, the Madison race is now essentially a team points race.
*[[Time trial|'''Time trials''']] include team pursuit, team sprint, individual pursuit, kilo and 500 metre time trials, and the 200m flying lap. Cyclists or teams compete alone or in pairs against the clock alone, with times deciding the winner. In team events, drafting plays an important part in the discipline. while in pursuit events, an alternative means of victory is to 'catch' your opponent by making up the distance between the two start positions on opposite sides of the track. The flying lap was formally part of the Omnium event, but is now reserved for the qualification stage of match sprint events to determine seeding. 
*[[Hour record|'''The Hour''']] is a notable and unique event where a rider attempts to cover the furthest possible distance in one hour, as opposed to a set distance in the fastest time. This is not held as a championship event but as an occasional challenge event for an elite time trialist.
*[[Sprint (track cycling)|'''Sprints''']], also known as 'match sprints', are short, highly tactical races involving two or three powerful track cyclists over a short course of three laps from a standing start, each trying to take advantage of drafting their opponent, or alternatively getting a gap to prevent their opponent drafting behind them, before breaking into an extremely fast final sprint for the line.
*'''[[Keirin]] races''' involve pacing 6 to 9 sprint riders with a motorcycle known as a [[Derny]]. The Derny gradually accelerates until the last lap and a half when it pulls off the track, leading to a sprint for the finish to determine the winner.
*'''[[Omnium]]''' competition assigns a point value to final standings of each race and riders accumulate points over the course of an event or series of events. This is not a specific race, but a competition that ties races and events together, and comparable to a heptathlon, decathlon in athletics, or modern pentathlon. Four endurance events comprise the current Olympic and World Championship Omnium: Scratch, Tempo, Elimination and Points race and must be completed within a day.

Team Sprint, sprint, Keirin, Kilo and flying laps are generally considered 'sprinters' races, which in track cycling equate to extremely powerful, muscular riders over short distances, resulting in some historic overlap between BMX riders and track sprinters, such as [[Chris Hoy]]. The other events are considered endurance events for riders with less outright power but greater aerobic ability, and such events have historically enjoyed an overlap with elite road racers, including road sprinters such as [[Mark Cavendish]] and [[Elia Viviani]], Grand Tour legends [[Eddy Merckx]], [[Fausto Coppi]] and more recent Tour de France winners [[Bradley Wiggins]] and [[Geraint Thomas]].
<gallery class="center" widths="180px" heights="120px">
File:1Dunc Gray Velodrome.jpg|The [[Dunc Gray Velodrome]] located in the [[City of Bankstown]] in [[Sydney]], Australia
File:Cyclists on the valley preferred cycling center track 2.jpg|[[Valley Preferred Cycling Center]] in [[Breinigsville, Pennsylvania]]
File:Velodrome racing.jpg|[[Bicycle racing]] on an outdoor velodrome
File:Izu Velodrome 2017-06-04 (34986647582).jpg|[[Izu Velodrome]]
File:Helsinki Velodromi ECMC 2006 -2.jpg|[[Helsinki Velodrome]]
</gallery>