Here are brief descriptions of some of the race you mind find yourself doing or watching at the Oval.  Might want to study this.  The information is from the website, wikipedia so you know it is highly accurate.

Scratch race

A scratch race is a cycling race in which all contestants start from scratch (on equal terms). If one or more riders gains an entire lap on the peloton and keeps this to the finish, this advantage places them ahead of the other riders with fewer laps completed.

On the track, scratch races can be over various distances e.g.

• Commonwealth Games - 20 km
• British Championships - 15 km
• UCI Track World Championships - Elite man - 15 km

Points race

A points race is a mass start track cycling event involving large numbers of riders simultaneously on track. It is an Olympic discipline.

This race can be one of the more confusing races to watch for less familiar viewers. Put simply this is a race over a long distance, usually 120-160 laps for men in major events and will take something in the region of 40 minutes. A sprint is held every ten laps, with 5,3,2 and 1 points being awarded to the top 4 finishers in each sprint. The winner of the race is the one to have the most points at the end of the race. In addition to the sprints, any riders managing to lap the main field is awarded an extra 20 points. This is therefore a popular way of gaining the points required to win the race and leads to many such attempts to gain a lap during the race.

Different tactics can be employed to try and win the race. Some riders may sit back in the main bunch conserving energy, only attacking for the sprints to gain points. Other riders may attempt to gain the lap early on in the race and try and defend the advantage. The most common breakaways seen the points race are groups of 2-5 riders, sharing the work to enable them to gain a lap. Although it is a difficult feat to gain the lap on your own, it is not uncommon for the top riders to be able to do this in order to win the race.

At the Olympic Games and World Championships qualification is determined by performance at the World Cup Classics events throughout the season. At the World Cup Classics meetings there are usually two heats taking place to decide qualification for the final. These are commonly half the race distance of the final.

The Snowball

The snowball is a variation on the points race where only the first finisher in the sprints is awarded any points. The number of points awarded increases with each sprint. The first sprint gives one point, the second gives two points, the third gives three points, etc. The sprints are also more frequent than in the normal points race, and can happen every lap or every two laps. In the case of a tie, the order of the final sprint is used to break the tie.

Point-a-Lap

The point-a-lap is - as its name would imply - a variation on the points race where a single point is awarded to the first rider to finish each lap. Typically more points are awarded on the final lap, going several riders deep.

Tempo

The tempo race is similar to the point-a-lap race except that points are awarded two deep for each lap (two points for the first rider, one point for the second).

Miss and Out

Miss and Out, Devil Take the Hindmost or elimination race is a massed start track cycling distance event. It is not a world championship or Olympic discipline but a popular event for spectators and riders at track meetings at a lower level and usually incorporated into Six-Day races.

The race is run for individual competitors or, more rarely, for teams of two relaying each other as in the Madison. At the end of every lap or every set number of laps the last rider to cross the line is eliminated from the race. When just a handful of riders remain, they sprint for the finish.

Tactically, the real racing in a "devil" happens at the back of the field. With riders at the front riding steadily and those behind moving up on the elimination laps to find a safe spot, the race favours riders with nerve and track-craft. The telescoping of the field means crashes are more common than in other races, especially among inexperienced riders.

Last night the FC cycling community came out in full force to show their support for Stuart Culp and his family, lets do it again today for Tim Anderson and his.   The 6 Day Races on the Oval are the result of countless hours of hard work by Tim. Supporting the races are the best way to show support for him as he recovers from a serious brain injury suffered while racing his bike.. Registration for the Oval races starts at 345 with racing starting at 450.   Racers of all abilities and ages are encouraged to attend.  More info here. http://fcvelodrome.com/news/events.php

Keep informed about Tim's Condition here www.carepages.com/carepages/timanderson

Per the Coloradoan.

Fort Collins cyclists took the streets Sunday evening in the first of six track races at the CSU Oval.

The competition, which will be held every Sunday through Aug. 16, features some of the best cyclists in Northern Colorado.

"It was a hard competition," said Brad Whetstone, a recent graduate of Colorado State University. "There were some fast racers, but it's a great competition. It's a nice setting with the trees around the Oval."

The event is open to all ages, including races for children and seniors.

"You don't have to have a racing bike or a racing license," said Caley Fretz, president of the Rams Cycling team. "The races are short and safe. It's a good way to drum up enthusiasm for cycling."

Races were between two and 12 laps around the Oval, with each lap being 666 meters. Track cycling is generally held in a velodrome, but with Fort Collins lacking a venue, the Oval was the next best fit.

In all, there was a pleasant turnout for the first week's event, but Fort Collins Velodrome Association President Tim Anderson knows that the number of attendants will continue to rise.

"The turnout was fairly light, but good," he said. "There were a couple other big races that kept some of our competitors and fans away tonight, but I'm confident that the crowd will grow each week."

Anderson said that toward the end of last year's competition, as many as 500 spectators showed up.

Local Rich Gentile chose to check out the competition because of his passion for cycling.

"I love cycling, so I decided to see what it was all about," he said. "It's a pretty cool venue. I'd like to see it get bigger."

Whetstone also mentioned the atmosphere being more relaxed than traditional races.

"It's nice seeing spectators lying in the grass, watching while throwing a Frisbee or just casually hanging out," the four-year Rams cyclist said.

 Read More

Photo gallery