Chris Hoy's velodrome guide

A detailed look at the velodrome - the home of track cycling Enlarge Image

The velodrome is the home of track cycling, where the speedsters of the sport fly around at up to 60mph.

It hosts a variety of events - the individual pursuit, the 'kilo', the madison and the keirin among others.

Chris Hoy is the current Olympic champion in the 'kilo' and a two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist from Manchester in 2002.

He guides you around the twists and turns of the velodrome.

By Chris Hoy Olympic champion

The velodrome is different from venue to venue - it can vary in length from 250m to 500m. The one in Manchester, for example, is a 250m international standard velodrome.

Each track is banked to allow riders to fly round the corners without having to slow down at all.

Because of that, you can work up a good pace. I tend to get up to 50mph/80kmph in my events.

The track itself is marked up with a series of lines - red, black and blue.

The red line is known as the sprinter's line - riders have to go round this if they want to overtake a lead rider.

Chris Hoy's guide to track cycling

Then there's the black line.

That's the shortest route around the track and it's important to stay on that as much as possible.

Should you weave in or outside that it obviously costs you valuable time.

Further up the track is the blue stayer's line.

This is used in Madison races for riders to rest between efforts, and it can get fairly busy and bunched up there.

Track cycling: Sprint events explained

Track cycling: Endurance events explained

Guide to track bikes