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Dimensions for Cycling

Information for track events, road events, BMX and mountain biking.

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The information in this guide is general in nature and cannot be relied upon as professional advice concerning the design of, or marking out for, sporting facilities and playing areas. No assurance is given as to the accuracy of any information contained in this guide and readers should not rely on its accuracy. Readers should obtain their own independent and professional advice in relation to their proposed sporting activity.

Track events

Track racing is done in a stadium-like arena called a velodrome. A modern velodrome is an oval track with steeply banked corners that facilitate high speed riding. Velodromes can be enclosed or open-air, and the tracks are constructed of timber, concrete, asphalt or cinder. Events include match sprint, individual and team pursuit, kilometre time trial and points race.

The inner edge of the track consists of two curves connected by two parallel straight lines. The entrance and exit of the bends are designed so that the transition is gradual. The banking of the track is determined by taking into account the radius of the curves and the maximum speeds achieved in the various disciplines.

Length

Olympic standard velodromes are minimum 250m in circumference. Other velodromes can range from 133m to 500m, although 250m is the most popular length used in all major events. The length of the track is measured 20cm above the inner edge of the track. For outdoor tracks the minimum 250m in length still applies but there is no maximum.

The length of a track is such that a whole number of laps or half laps is a distance of one kilometre. For example:

  • 50m track is four laps = 1km
  • 333.333m track is three laps = 1km
  • 500m track is two laps = 1km

Width

The width of the track is 5m−10m, depending on the category of racing.

Blue band and safety zone

A rideable area sky-blue in colour known as the ‘blue band’ is located along the inside edge of the track. The width is at least 10 per cent of the width of the track. Immediately inside the blue band there is a marked safety zone. The combined width of the blue bank and safety zone is at least 4m for a 250m track and 2.5m for tracks shorter than 250m.

Measuring line

A black line in a white background, drawn 20cm from the inside edge of the track, numbered every 10m and marked every 5m.

Sprinters line

Red line marked 85cm from the inner edge of the track.

Stayers line

Blue line drawn at one third of the total width of the track or 2.45m (whichever is the greater) from the inner edge of the track.

Finish line

It is a black perpendicular line 4cm wide at the centre of a white bank 72cm wide, situated towards the end of one of the straights and at least a few metres before the start of the banking.

200 metre line

A white line is drawn across the track 200m before the finish line, from which point times will be taken for sprint events.

Pursuit lines

Two red lines half the width of the track in length, perpendicular to the track and in line with one another, drawn at the midpoint of each straight to mark the finish point for pursuit events.

Fencing

The outside edge of the track is surrounded by a safety fence 90cm high to protect riders and spectators. The colour must contrast clearly with that of the track.

Lighting

There must be an even spread over the surface of the track without definite pools of light. Surface light values for an indoor track are 300 lux for training or general activity and 600 lux for racing events. A minimum of 1400 lux is required for elite international events.

 

Cycling track   

Road events

There are several formats of road racing, including stage races, one-day events, time trials and criteriums. Road cycling involves both team and individual events. Races may be held over a number of stages or as single days. The riders move off together at the start and the winner is the person covering the total course in the shortest time. The maximum number of competitors in a road race is 200.

Stage races

Stage racing events are split into stages that usually last more than one day. Stage races can last for weeks and cover thousands of kilometres. Each day’s race is called a stage. The rider with the lowest cumulative time after all the stages is the overall winner.

One day races

One day races are conducted on circuits or point to point courses. One day races last up to seven hours over distances up to 300km. They can be mass start or handicap events.

Criterium

A criterium is a multi-lap race held on a loop course with each lap up to 2km. These races are often held through closed streets of a town. Unlike stage racing and time trialing, there is more emphasis on speed and bike handling.

Time trials

In time trials the object is to cycle as fast as possible from one point to another, while being timed by a clock. Riders are started singly at one minute intervals and are individually timed while completing the course.

BMX

BMX entered the Olympics for the first time in Beijing. The track is a compact, closed looped design and forms a circuit where length measured along its centre line is between 300m to 400m. The track is a minimum of 10m wide at the start and cannot taper to a width of less than 5m at any point along its course. There are circuits, jumps, banked corners and other obstacles built into the track.  Eight riders compete in each heat (qualifying rounds, quarter finals, semi-finals, finals) with the top four qualifying for the next round.

Starting hill

The starting hill accommodates a track width of at least 10m and at an elevation at least 1.5 metres above the grade of the first straight.  The initial incline extending from the starting gate to level grade is at least 12m long.

Starting gate

The start hill is a downhill gradient with a start gate 8m wide at the top. The riders start with their front wheels pressed against start gate, which is hinged and drops forward when released to start the race.  The gate is at least 50cm, high with the slope of the ramp which supports the bicycles' wheels no greater angle than 90° when they are in their starting position.  An electronically controlled system is mandatory at all international events.

Initial straight

The initial straight shall be a minimum of 40 metres in length. It is recommended that the bottom of the front side of the first obstacle in the initial straight is located not less than 35m from the starting gate or less than 20m from the point of curvature of the first turn. On tracks designed for highly skilled riders, the distance between the starting gate and the front side of the first obstacle may be shorter.

First turn

The first turn may go in either direction and is banked to a degree which allows safe entry and exit for riders of all ages at race speeds.  At the first turn, the track is a minimum of 6m wide measured along a straight line extending from its surface at the inner radius to the top of the berm (banked dirt wall) at its outer radius.

Turns and obstacles

The track has a minimum of 3 turns and a minimum of 5m wide throughout each turn.  All obstacles on the track must be constructed with the safety of all riders, regardless of age. On the first straight the minimum distance between two obstacles is 10m. An obstacle is defined by its front and back slope and is a single obstacle, double, triple or multi-jump as well as a 4-pack, 5-pack or multi-pack.

Finish line

The finish line is a straight line of 4cm wide, painted in black in the middle of a white strip 24cm wide. Any banners extending across the track above the finish line or elsewhere along the track must be high enough  above the track level to avoid interference with the riders crossing beneath them.

 

Typical BMX track 

Mountain bike

The sport of mountain bike evolved from recreational off-road cycling. There are two main types of racing ─ cross-country racing and downhill racing.

Cross-country racing

Cross-country racing has a mass start with a race around a number of circuits of a course usually 5-9km long.  The winner is the first rider to the finish.

An ideal course is varied with a blend of many different types of terrain.  There is a mixture of technical/difficult riding and easier/open riding, with a blend of length and steep climbs and descents.

The best shape for a course if a 'clover leaf' as this provides spectators with opportunities to see the riders without shortening the laps.  It is a smaller area to manage with benefits in terms of radio communications, medical evacuation and marshal placement.

Downhill

Downhill competitions are individual time trials where riders are set off at standard intervals to race against the clock. Downhill courses comprise a mixture of single track, jeep road, field tracks, forest tracks and rocky track. The course also includes a mixture of rapid and slower technical sections, and no uphill or lengthy flat sections.

 
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