British cyclist Chris Hoy is a major figure in short-distance track racing. His events can be decided in seconds, but the final burst is only part of the contest. Starts, positioning, an opponent's movement and team transitions can all shape the result. His career is a useful introduction to the different forms that sprint racing takes.
Individual and team achievements
Hoy won three gold medals at Beijing 2008, then won the team sprint and keirin at London 2012. The team sprint assigns riders successive leading duties. The keirin puts several riders into the same tactical race. Similar physical strengths must therefore serve very different decisions about pace, responsibility and the timing of an effort.
Watching the keirin
A pacer controls the early speed before leaving the track for the decisive racing phase. Riders want shelter from the wind but must avoid becoming trapped without room to accelerate. When watching Hoy, first identify the wheel he follows, then observe the bend on which he begins moving towards the front.
Execution at speed
Sprint riders must turn force into an effective pedalling rhythm while holding a controlled line through steeply banked bends. Standing acceleration and seated speed have different purposes. Look beyond the legs to the stability of the upper body, the path of the wheels and the distance remaining when the sprint begins.
