Never ridden a track before? Start here →

What is track cycling?

A fast, thrilling sport on a banked oval — and more approachable than it looks.

Two riders sprint side by side on the banking

Photo: Masa Higuchi

Track cycling is a fast-paced, exciting sport that takes place on a velodrome: an oval, banked track built specifically for cycling. Riders use lightweight, fixed-gear bikes without brakes, which is exactly what makes the sport unique and thrilling.

Events range from short, explosive sprints to endurance races where riders compete as individuals or teams. The focus is on speed, skill, and strategy. Whether you're watching or riding, track cycling combines athleticism with precision — a completely different feeling from road cycling.

The bike

Three things make a track bike different — and each one is a safety feature.

Fixed gear

The pedals always turn with the rear wheel. There's no coasting, which gives you direct, precise control over your speed.

No brakes

You slow by gently resisting the pedals. Because no one can stop suddenly, riders can race inches apart, safely.

High bottom bracket

The pedals sit higher off the ground, so you can pedal through the steep banking without clipping a pedal.

The track

A 250m oval, marked with lines that tell every rider where to be.

Côte d'Azur (the blue band)

The light-blue apron at the very bottom. It's a transition zone — you ride here only when entering or leaving the track, never while racing.

Measurement line (black)

The black line just above the blue band marks the shortest way around — the official 250m.

Sprinters' line (red)

The red line is for aggressive, fast riding and sprinting. Below it is the fast lane.

Stayers' line (blue)

The upper blue line is the relief lane, where riders sit up and recover higher on the banking.

Still sounds intimidating?

That's normal. The best way to understand a velodrome is to stand on it. A Try the Track session walks you through all of this in person, at a pace that's yours.