Velodrome

Modern velodromes feature steeply banked oval tracks, consisting of two 180-degree circular bends connected by two straights.

Reflecting the then-lack of international standards, sizes varied and not all were built as ovals: for example, Preston Park is 579 m (1,900 ft) long and features four straights linked by banked curves, while the 536 m (1,759 ft) Portsmouth velodrome, in Portsmouth, has a single straight linked by one long curve.

The oldest surviving regular velodrome two-straight oval tracks is from 1889, located in Brno, Czech Republic.

[3] International competitions such as the Olympic Games led to more standardisation: two-straight oval tracks quickly became the norm, and gradually lap lengths reduced.

Banking in the turns, called cant, allows riders to keep their bikes relatively perpendicular to the surface while riding at speed.

When travelling through the turns at racing speed, which may exceed 85 km/h (52.8 mph), the banking attempts to match the natural lean of a bicycle moving through that curve.

In match sprints riders may come to a stop by performing a track stand in which they balance the bicycle on the sloped surface while keeping their feet locked into the pedals.

This helps maximise speed, reduces weight, and avoids sudden braking while nevertheless allowing the rider to slow by pushing back against the pedals.

Other events on the UCI International Calendar may be held in velodromes that measure between 133 and 500 m (436 and 1,640 ft) inclusive, with a length such that a whole or half number of laps give a distance of 1 km (0.62 mi).

[4] The velodrome at Calshot in Hampshire, England, is only 142 m (466 ft) and has especially steep banking because it was built to fit inside an aircraft hangar.

Between the infield (sometimes referred to as an apron) and the actual track is the blue band (called "côte d'azur") which is typically 10% of the surface.

The blue band is not technically a part of the track; although it is not illegal to ride there, moving into it to shortcut another rider results in disqualification.

Common types of races include: 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.