Mens Sprint Final - 2014 UCI Track Worlds

Mens Sprint Final Gold Medal - 2014 UCI Track World Championships, Cali, Colombia

This is a clip from the 2014 Track World Championships, Cali, Colombia

Track cycling dates back to at least 1870 and, with the exception of 1912, has played a part in every Olympics in the modern era. Track Cycling events can be roughly split into 2 disciplines -- Sprinting and Endurance

Sprint Events:

Individual Sprint - This is a very tactical event in which riders try to outmanoeuvre their opponents. Sometimes riders will come to a standstill in an effort to make their opponent take the lead, which is the least advantageous position before the final sprint to the finish line.

Team Sprint - This spectacular form of racing sees two teams start off on opposite sides of the track. It is raced by teams of three riders over three laps for Elite Men and two riders over two laps for Elite Women. Each rider leads for a lap before dropping back.

Kilometre / 500m Time Trial - This is an individual time trial from a standing start. Elite Men race over 1km and Elite Women over 500 m. The competitor with the fastest time is the winner.

Keirin - Keirin racing originated in Japan. Contested over 2 km, the field of three to seven riders follows a pacing motorbike at an increasing speed, all the while jostling for position. When the motorbike pulls off the track with two and a half laps to go, the battle begins to win the sprint to the finish.

Endurance Events:

Individual Pursuit - Two riders start on opposite sides of the track and compete over 4 km for Elite Men and 3 km for Elite Women. The winner is the rider who manages to catch his/her opponent or who records the fastest time.

Team Pursuit - Two teams of 4 riders (3 riders for women) start on opposite sides of the track and compete over 4 km (3 km for women). The winning team is the one that manages to catch its opponents or that records the fastest time.

Points Race - This superbly tactical discipline is contested over a long distance, usually 40 km for men and 25 km for women in major events. The final result is determined according to points gained during sprints (one every 10 laps on a 250 m track) and when a rider manages to lap the rest of the field.

Madison - Up to 18 teams of two riders take part in this relay race contested by means of intermediary sprints. While one team member races, the other slows down to take a rest. When he rejoins the race, his teammate throws him into the action with a hand sling. The classification is established according to the distance covered and the points won in the sprints (every 20 laps). The Madison is held over distances of 25-50 km for Elite Men, depending on the competition.

Scratch Race - This is a race for up to 24 individual riders over 15 km for men and 10 km for women. The first across the finish line is the winner.

Omnium - The Omnium is made up of 6 events and is disputed over 2 consecutive days. The final classification is established by adding up the finishing places in each event. The winner is the rider who has the lowest total. At the 2012 London Olympics, the Omnium comprised a Flying lap, a Points race, an Individual pursuit, a Scratch Race, a Kilometre / 500m time trial and an Elimination Race.

[steemcat]

For those who don't understand what's going on.
1. Winner is who finishes first (time is no matter). One of cyclists starts to move first.
2. Hard to believe, but at 50-70 Km/h the windage eats 90-95% of cyclist's power.
3. There is 2-meters zone of low airpressure behind a cyclist moving at 30 Km/h or faster. So if you move behind other cyclist you use 30% less power.
That is why a Mr.Second has huge advantage in energy consumption at high speed. At low speed (up to 15 Km/h approx) Mr.Second has no advantage.
If Mr.First start with 30 Km/h (or faster) he will spend 30% more energy and Mr.Second easily outruns him on last 100 meters spurt.
If Mr.First want to win he starts with extremely low speed and waits for last 100-200 meters sector where he has a 3-4 meters advantage for finish spurt.
From start to last 200 m sector Mr.First always tries to stop moving with hope that Mr.Second couldn't stop and moves to first position.
This is a game of nerves, skill and thews ))

[Endeva]

For folks who are confused as to how this works. These types of cyclists are what's known as sprinters, sprinters can produce an insane amount of acceleration and high speed but only for a short period of time, kinda like 100 meter running sprinters.

On bikes a LOT of what stops you going really super fast is wind resistance, caused by literally just going fast, if however you can get behind another cyclist you have far far less wind resistance, approximately 30% less, this is known as drafting.

So basically they don't care about how fast they finish in, it doesn't matter, all that matters is who crosses the line first, because both riders can probably ride exactly the same speed as each other the person in front is actually at a disadvantage, because the person in second can put the same amount of power down but have considerably less resistance, this usually means if you can be deliberately second but only just behind first you can normally overtake and win in the last half a lap.

[willraich]

I didn't realize they started for a solid minute or so. I thought they were doing some sort of pace lap...

[TheJovan]

71.44 km/h... 🙄🙄 These guys have motors in their legs... Insane!

[realist]

I would love just to try riding one of those bikes on that track. So cool

[gregvai]

Magnifique Pervis. Deux athlètes de classe internationale, que c'est beau !

[arklat]

That was a thing of beauty! As a former match sprinter in the late 70's, the winner here has picture perfect form. I myself liked to sprint from the rear position, and I preferred to give a bit more room. That way, I could use the draft to slingshot past the opponent. But it is harder to win from the front, but better in some ways too. This sprinter is good. He should be proud. and his coaches too. Congratulations, new World Champion!

[hoahoatv]

The ride is great but after the match, the sportsmanship of these two is incredible

[anjanbabu]

thanks to the many comments for explaining this sport. I was totally lost

[linglingjr]

Oh man how great is that. Blasting justice through the speakers right before a frenchman wins on the second round. Nothing could be more appropriate.

[jonandersonmd]

THANK you so much for bringing this to us!! And congratulations to two very fine athletes !!

[brekdakbanchamek]

That Epic Sportsmanship in the end is Glorious😊🌄😇💖💯

[Vlogimo]

These bikes are fixed gear, no free wheel hubs, its amazing how they reached 70km/h. I wonder what gear ratio they're running.

[Benis]

This is my first time seeing this kind of sports, and I am so impressed, what a amazing game

[enescakr]

As far as I understand there are laps and the last lap is the most important so that's why they're playing around at the first laps and then punch the paddle to win

[supremeetnel]

Man biking is so fun to me . I bike everywhere . I wish I could participate in this sport

[akkayeps]

6:06 my cat when it wakes up and stretches

[caperider]

Incredible duel!

71.44km/h !!


I wish they could graphically simulate wind drag using translucent colors of different intensities along the two riders for the spectators to clearly understand what strategic game is going on. Or should I come up with one? 😁

[pellob]

It's so awesome if u know what they r doing and why... Technique, skills, and mental strength!

[MannuhFestIt]

Ok, I think I understand this so far. So the reason for the slow movement in the beginning is for one to get behind the other so the guy that's behind can take advantage of the aerodynamics and get ahead at the end? And this is due to the short distance they must pedal? Am I getting this correctly?