Omnium
Encyclopedia
An omnium is a multiple race event in track cycling
. Historically the omnium has had a variety of formats. Currently, and for the 2012 Olympics
, the omnium as defined by the Union Cycliste Internationale
(UCI) consists of the following six events:
Points are awarded in reverse order. The rider who finishes first in an event receives one point, the second rider will get two points and so on. The rider with the fewest points after all events is the winner. When two riders are tied on points, the combined time of the three time trials will break the tie amongst the riders. A rider must have completed every event in the omnium.
The omnium was re-introduced into the World Championships as a five race format for men in 2007 and for women in 2009. The omnium was changed in 2010 by the UCI to include the elimination race in 2010 and the distances of the events were lengthened to favor endurance cyclists.
The omnium will replace the individual pursuit
, the points race
, and the madison
at the Summer Olympic Games
beginning in 2012
. The change was quite controversial.
Track cycling
Track cycling is a bicycle racing sport usually held on specially built banked tracks or velodromes using track bicycles....
. Historically the omnium has had a variety of formats. Currently, and for the 2012 Olympics
2012 Summer Olympics
The 2012 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the "London 2012 Olympic Games", are scheduled to take place in London, England, United Kingdom from 27 July to 12 August 2012...
, the omnium as defined by the Union Cycliste Internationale
Union Cycliste Internationale
Union Cycliste Internationale is the world governing body for sports cycling and oversees international competitive cycling events. The UCI is based in Aigle, Switzerland....
(UCI) consists of the following six events:
- 1) Flying lap (against the clock)
- 2) Points racePoints raceA points race is a mass start track cycling event involving large numbers of riders simultaneously on track. It was an Olympic event for men between 1984–2008 and for women 1996-2008....
- 30 km for elite men, 20 km for elite women, 15 km for junior men, 10 km for junior women
- 3) Elimination
- 4) Individual pursuitIndividual pursuitThe individual pursuit is a track cycling event where two cyclists begin the race from a stationary position on opposite sides of the track.The event is held over 4 km for men and 3 km for women. The two riders start at the same time and set off to complete the race distance in the...
- 4000 meters for elite men, 3000 meters for junior men and elite women, 2000 meters for junior women
- 5) Scratch race
- 6) Time trialTrack time trialIn the track time trial, a track cycling event, cyclists compete individually against the clock to record the fastest time over the specified distance from a standing start.-The bike:...
:- 1km men, 500 metres women
Points are awarded in reverse order. The rider who finishes first in an event receives one point, the second rider will get two points and so on. The rider with the fewest points after all events is the winner. When two riders are tied on points, the combined time of the three time trials will break the tie amongst the riders. A rider must have completed every event in the omnium.
The omnium was re-introduced into the World Championships as a five race format for men in 2007 and for women in 2009. The omnium was changed in 2010 by the UCI to include the elimination race in 2010 and the distances of the events were lengthened to favor endurance cyclists.
The omnium will replace the individual pursuit
Individual pursuit
The individual pursuit is a track cycling event where two cyclists begin the race from a stationary position on opposite sides of the track.The event is held over 4 km for men and 3 km for women. The two riders start at the same time and set off to complete the race distance in the...
, the points race
Points race
A points race is a mass start track cycling event involving large numbers of riders simultaneously on track. It was an Olympic event for men between 1984–2008 and for women 1996-2008....
, and the madison
Madison (cycling)
The madison is a team event in track cycling, named after the first Madison Square Garden in New York, and known as the "American race" in French and in Italian and Spanish as Americana.-History:...
at the Summer Olympic Games
Summer Olympic Games
The Summer Olympic Games or the Games of the Olympiad are an international multi-sport event, occurring every four years, organized by the International Olympic Committee. Medals are awarded in each event, with gold medals for first place, silver for second and bronze for third, a tradition that...
beginning in 2012
Cycling at the 2012 Summer Olympics
Cycling at the 2012 Summer Olympics is scheduled to take place at five different venues. The venues are the London Velopark for track cycling and BMX, and Hadleigh Farm in Essex for mountain biking...
. The change was quite controversial.