December 18/09 19:10 pm - UCI Announces New Olympic Omnium Format

Posted by Editoress on 12/18/09
 

The UCI recently announced that the track program for the 2012 Olympics would be drastically changed (December 10th), with some traditional events (such as the Individual Pursuit and Points Race) dropped and a new Omnium event added. Men and women would now have the same number of events (five). the UCI has now announced the format of the Omnium, and it will be a gruelling one. Below are the details of the new Olympic Omnium:

The UCI Track Commission has redefined the format of the omnium. The objective is to make this event more attractive to the public and to place more emphasis on endurance compared with the format used at the last three World Championships.

On this basis, the UCI can now announce the details of the omnium format to be used at the next Olympic Games:

• Flying lap (250-metre time trial)
• Points race (men: 30 km, women: 20 km)
• Individual pursuit (men: 4000m, women: 3000m)
• Scratch race (men: 15 km, women: 10 km)
• Kilometre time trial (men), 500-metre time trial (women)
• Elimination race (24 starters)

The flying lap is not completely new, as a flying 200 metres is traditionally used for qualification in the individual sprint. However, the distance of 250 metres is an innovation.

The points race will be run over the same distance as at World Cups.

The individual pursuit, one of the iconic endurance specialities, will also maintain its traditional distances.

The scratch race, a new addition to the Olympic scene as part of the omnium, will be run over longer distances than previously, equivalent to traditional scratch race distances.

The kilometre (standing start) is the only event that is not traditionally held during Six-Day races for endurance riders. Because of this, it will be a decisive component of the omnium.
Finally, 24 riders will compete in an elimination race. Every two laps, the last rider over the finish line will be eliminated.

The omnium, after the World Championships in Copenhagen (24-28 March 2010), will thus be made up of the four endurance and two sprint events described. It will be held over two days in a sequence to be defined.

The omnium is one of the five events of the Olympic track cycling programme together with the individual sprint, team sprint, keirin and team pursuit. An equal number of medals will be awarded to men and women in track cycling at the London 2012 Olympic Games.