A scratch race is a track cycling race in which all riders start together and the objective is simply to be first over the finish line after a certain number of laps.
[1] A lapped rider must leave the race once they are overtaken by the peloton.
[2] The scratch race has been a UCI World Championship event for men and women since 2002.
Franco Marvulli of Switzerland and Alex Rasmussen of Denmark have both won the men's scratch event twice, while Wim Stroetinga of the Netherlands has the most medals with three between 2007 and 2012.
In the women's scratch race, Yoanka González of Cuba is the most decorated rider, with five gold or silver medals won between 2004 and 2010.