What is Madison race?
The Madison is a race where each team aims to complete more laps than any of the other teams. Riders in each team take turns during the race, handing over to another team member, resting, and then returning to the race. Teams are usually of two riders but occasionally of three.
Why is it called a keirin?
Boiled down to its basics, riders follow a motorbike which gets them up to speed, then lets them race to the line. For the Japanese, the Keirin will be one of the blue ribband events at the Olympics. The Keirin originated in Japan after the war as a betting event – ‘Keirin’ literally means ‘sports betting’.
Where was the first keirin race in the world held?
Nitta, Tomohiro Fukaya and Yoshitaku Nagasako won the men’s team sprint title at the Brisbane leg of the World Cup this month, with Yumi Kajiwara taking gold in the women’s omnium in Hong Kong. The world’s first keirin race was held in the south-western city of Kokura – present-day Kitakyushu – three years after the end of the second world war.
What’s the finishing speed in a keirin race?
The pacer leaves the track 750 m (820 yd) before the end of the race (3 laps on a 250 m (270 yd) track). The winner’s finishing speed can exceed 70 km/h (43 mph). Competition keirin races are conducted over several rounds with one final. Some eliminated cyclists can try again in the repechages.
How does the keirin work in track cycling?
The Keirin is a mass start track cycling event in which 6 to 9 sprinters compete at one time in a race with a paced-start. Riders draw lots to determine starting positions and start as the pacer (which could be a motorcycle, a derny, or a tandem bicycle, for example) approaches.
How does the keirin race in Japan work?
Keirin races in Japan begin with the cyclists parading to the starting blocks, bowing as they enter the track and again as they position their bikes for the start of the race. Every participant is assigned a number and a colour for identification and betting purposes.