Tissot UCI Track World Championships 2025

Santiago, Chile 22 Oct – 26 Oct 2025 Class CM – UCI World Championships

Source: https://www.ucichile2025.org/en

Official Schedule

2025 Tissot UCI Track World Championships

Get ready to live five days of excitement, speed and strategy at the Peñalolén Velodrome. The 2025 Tissot UCI Track World Championship will take place from October 22 to 26, with the participation of the best exponents in track cycling in the world.

This event will be the ideal opportunity to see world champions, Olympic medalists and promising international cyclists in action on a world-class track located in Santiago, Chile.

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Wednesday, October 22nd 

Morning session (11:00 a.m. – 04:14 p.m.)

• Team pursuit classification – Women.
• Team pursuit classification – Men.
• Team Sprint Classification – Women.
• Team Sprint Classification – Men.

 

Afternoon Session (06:00 p.m. – 08:26 p.m. hours)

• Opening Ceremony.
• Sprint – First round – Women.
• Sprint – Men.
• Scratch 10 km – Final – Women.
• Team pursuit – First round – Men. 
• Scratch 10km – Women – Award Ceremony.
• Sprint – Final – Women.
• Sprint – Final – Men. 
• Sprint – Award Ceremony – Women.
• Sprint – Award Ceremony – Men. 

Thursday, October 23rd 

Morning Session (11:00 a.m. – 1:43 p.m.)

• Keirin – First – Men.
• Sprint – 200m Classification – Women.
• Keirin – Men – Repechages.
• Sprint – Women – 1/8 final.
• Keirin – Second round – Men.
• Sprint – Women – 1/8 final.

Afternoon Session (05:30 p.m. – 08:26 p.m.)

• Team pursuit – First round – Women.
• Sprint – Women – 1/4 Final.
• Keirin – Men – 3rd Round. 
• Pursuit Team – Men – Finals.
• Sprint – Women – 1/4 Final.
• Elimination – Final – Women.
• Sprint – Women – 1/4 Final.
• Team Pursuit – Men – Award Ceremony.
• Elimination – Women – Award Ceremony.
• Keirin – Men – Final (7-12).
• Keirin – Men – Final 1 to 6. 
• Scratch 10 km – Final – Men.
• Pursuit Team – Women – Finals.
• Keirin – Men – Award Ceremony.
• Scratch 10km – Men – Award Ceremony.
• Team Pursuit – Women – Award Ceremony.
• Sprint – 1/4 finals (1st, 2nd & 3rd) – Women. 
• Keirin – Semifinals & final by places 1-6 – Men.
• Elimination – Final – Women.
• Team pursuit – Final – Men.
• Scratch 10 km – Final – Men.
• Awards Ceremonies. 

Friday, October 24th

Morning Session (11:00 a.m. – 1:55 p.m.)

• Classification kilometer time trial – Men.
• Omnium I – Women – Scratch 10km.
• Individual Pursuit Classification – Men.
• Omnium II – Women – Tempo Race 10km.

 

Afternoon Session ( 5:00 p.m. – 8:45 p.m.)

• 40km Points Race – Men – Final.
• Sprint – 1/2 Final – Women.
• Omnium III – Women – Elimination.
• Sprint – 1/2 Final – Women.
• Kilometer – Men – Final.
• Sprint – 1/2 Final – Women.
• 40km Points Race – Men – Award Ceremony.
• Individual Pursuit – Men – Final.
• Omnium IV – Women – Final points race 20 km.
• Sprint – Women – Finals.
• Kilometer – Men – Award Ceremony.
• Individual Pursuit – Men – Award Ceremony.
• Sprint – Women – Finals.
• Omnium – Women – Award Ceremony.
• Sprint – Award Ceremony – Women. 

Saturday, October 25th

Morning Session (11:00 a.m. – 3:43 p.m.)

• Classification kilometer time trial – Women.
• Classification Sprint – Men. 
• Individual Pursuit Classification – Women.
• Omnium Men – Scratch and Tempo.
• Madison Classification – Women. 
• Omnium I – Men – Scratch 10km.
• Omnium II – Men – Tempo Race 10km.

Afternoon Session (6:00 p.m. – 9:10 p.m.)

• Final kilometer time trial – Women.
• Final Sprint – Men.
• Final Individual Pursuit – Women. 
• Omnium Men – Elimination and Points.
• Final Madison 30 km – Women. 
• Kilometer – Women – Award Ceremony. 
• Madison 30 km – Women – Award Ceremony.
• Omnium IV – Men – Final points race 25km. 
• Individual Pursuit – Men – Award Ceremony.
• Omnium – Men – Award Ceremony. 

Sunday, October 26th

Morning Session (11:00 a.m. – 12:11 p.m.)

• Sprint – 1/2 Final – Men.
• Keirin – Women: first round.
• Sprint – 1/2 Final (2nd) – Men.
• Keirin – Women: repechages.
• Sprint – 1/2 Final – Men.

Afternoon Session (1:30 p.m. – 8:26 p.m.)

• Keirin – Women: second round.
• Sprint – Men – Finals 3-4 place and 1-2 place.
• 25km Points Race – Women – Final.
• Keirin – Women: third round.
• Elimination – Men: final.
• Sprint – Men – Finals 3-4 place and 1-2 place.
• 25km Points Race – Women – Awards Ceremony.
• Elimination – Men – Award Ceremony.
• Keirin – Women – Finals 7th to 12th place.
• Keirin – Women: final 1 to 6.
• Sprint – Men – Finals 3-4 place and 1-2 place.
• Keirin – Women: award ceremony.
• Madison 50 km – Men: final.
• Sprint – Award Ceremony – Men.
• Madison 50 km – Men: award ceremony. 

Here are the rules for the major individual track cycling disciplines:

The major individual track cycling disciplines generally fall into two categories: Sprint and Endurance. Here are the rules for the most prominent individual events:

Individual Sprint (Match Sprint)

• Format: A head-to-head competition over three laps (on a 250m track) after an initial qualification.
• Qualification: Riders complete a Flying 200m Time Trial (timed over the last 200m after a flying start) to determine seeding for the knockout rounds.
• Rounds: Riders face off in heats, typically starting with one-on-one, sudden-death races, then progressing to best-of-three series from the quarter-finals onward.
• Tactics: The race is highly tactical. Riders often ride slowly or even stop (Track Stand) to try and force their opponent to take the lead first, as the second position allows for drafting (slipstreaming) and a potential advantage in the final sprint. The first rider across the finish line after three laps wins the heat.

Keirin

• Format: A mass-start sprint race featuring multiple riders (usually 6-8).
• Pacing: The first part of the race (typically 5.5 laps on a 250m track) is paced by a motorized vehicle called a Derny, which gradually increases speed from about 30 km/h to 50 km/h (for men; women’s speeds are slightly lower).
• Sprint: With about 2.5 laps remaining, the Derny pulls off the track, and it becomes an all-out sprint to the finish line.
• Rules: Riders must remain behind the Derny until it exits. The first rider to cross the finish line wins. The event typically includes heats, repechages, and finals.

Time Trial (e.g., Men’s 1km, Women’s 500m)

• Format: An individual race against the clock over a set distance, often referred to as the “Kilo” for the men’s 1000m event.
• Start: Riders start from a standing start (from a complete stop).
• Goal: The rider with the fastest time over the full distance wins.

Individual Pursuit

• Format: A race against the clock and an opponent, over a distance of 4 km (men) or 3 km (women).
• Start: Two riders start simultaneously on opposite sides of the track.
• Winner: The winner is the rider who either catches their opponent (laps them) or records the fastest time over the full distance.
• Rounds: A qualification round determines the top riders, who then compete in knock-out rounds for the medal finals.

Scratch Race

• Format: A simple mass-start endurance race over a predetermined distance (15 km for men, 10 km for women, typically).
• Winner: The first rider to cross the finish line after the full distance is completed wins. Intermediate sprints or points do not count.

Points Race

• Format: A mass-start race over a significant distance (40 km for men, 25 km for women, typically) where the winner is determined by points accumulation.
• Points:
  • Intermediate Sprints: Points are awarded to the first four riders across the line during intermediate sprints (e.g., every 10 laps): 5,3,2,1 points.
  • Lapping the Field: A rider who laps the main bunch of riders is awarded a significant bonus (typically 20 points).
• Winner: The rider with the highest total number of accumulated points wins. If points are tied, the placing in the final sprint determines the ranking.

Elimination Race (Devil-Take-The-Hindmost)

• Format: A mass-start race where the last rider across the finish line on designated laps is eliminated.
• Elimination: Typically, the last rider to cross the line every two laps is eliminated until only a few riders remain (usually two or three).
• Finish: The final remaining riders sprint for the victory.

Omnium

• Format: A multi-race competition where riders compete in four mass-start events over one day, with the winner being the one with the most cumulative points.
• Events (in order):
  1. Scratch Race
  2. Tempo Race (points awarded for winning laps after a certain distance)
  3. Elimination Race
  4. Points Race (riders start this race with points carried over from the first three events)
• Scoring: For the first three events, riders earn a fixed number of points based on their finish position (1st gets 40 points, 2nd gets 38, etc.). For the Points Race, they add points earned in that race (sprints and laps) to their existing total. The highest total point score wins the Omnium.

Note: The Elimination Race is a standalone event but is also one of the four disciplines that make up the Omnium multi-event competition.

Track cycling features a range of individual disciplines, each with its own unique set of rules and strategies, generally categorized as either Sprint or Endurance events.

Sprint Events

Individual Sprint

The Individual Sprint is a head-to-head race between two riders, usually over three laps on a 250m track.

• Goal: Be the first rider to cross the finish line.
• Tactics: The initial laps are often ridden at a very slow pace, a highly tactical “cat-and-mouse” game. The rider in the front has to overcome air resistance, which is an advantage for the rider drafting behind. Both riders try to manipulate the other into taking the lead too early. Riders may come to a near standstill, performing a track stand, but must not put a foot down or move backwards excessively.
• Final Lap: The race typically culminates in a massive, high-speed burst of power in the final lap as one rider commits to the sprint.
• Progression: The competition usually involves a time trial to seed riders, followed by knockout rounds where each heat is often a best-of-three series.

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Keirin

The Keirin is a motor-paced sprint race involving multiple riders (typically 6-8). It originated in Japan as a betting sport.

• Pacing: Riders follow a motorized bicycle called a derny (or pacer) for the first portion of the race. The derny starts at a slow speed and gradually increases pace up to a set maximum speed (e.g., 45-50 km/h for men).
• Formation: Riders are typically arranged in a single line behind the derny in positions determined by a draw. They must not pass the derny until it pulls off the track.
• Sprint: The derny pulls off with a set number of laps remaining (e.g., $2\frac{1}{2}$ laps to go on a 250m track). At this point, the race is a full-out sprint to the finish line, with the riders jostling for position and using drafting strategically.
• Goal: First rider across the line wins.

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Time Trial

The Time Trial is a straightforward race against the clock.

• Distance: Standard distances are $1\text{ km}$ for men (often called the $\text{Kilometre Time Trial}$ or “the kilo”) and $500\text{ m}$ for women.
• Format: Riders start from a standing start and complete the distance individually.
• Goal: The fastest time wins.

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Endurance Events

Individual Pursuit

The Individual Pursuit is a race between two riders who start on opposite sides of the track.

• Distance: Typically $4\text{ km}$ for men and $3\text{ km}$ for women.
• Goal: The goal is to either catch the opponent (overtaking them ends the race immediately, regardless of laps completed) or to record the fastest time over the designated distance.
• Progression: Qualifying rounds determine the fastest times, and finals pit the top qualifiers against each other.

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Points Race

The Points Race is a mass-start event where the winner is determined by points accumulated during the race, not just by the final finish position.

• Distance: The race is held over a set, long distance (e.g., $40\text{ km}$ for men, $25\text{ km}$ for women).
• Scoring Sprints: Points are awarded to the first few riders to cross the line on pre-determined sprint laps (e.g., every 10 laps). Points are typically $5, 3, 2, \text{ and } 1$ for the top four riders, with double points on the final sprint.
• Lapping the Field: The most significant source of points is gaining a lap on the main field, which usually earns a large bonus (e.g., 20 points). Conversely, being lapped by the main field results in a point deduction (e.g., $-20$ points).
• Goal: The rider with the highest total points at the end wins. Laps gained/lost take precedence over sprint points in the final classification.

The Elimination Race and the Keirin are two distinct and exciting disciplines in track cycling. Here is an explanation of the rules for each:

1. Elimination Race (also known as ‘Devil-Take-the-Hindmost’)

The Elimination Race is a mass-start endurance event where the objective is not to be the last rider to cross the finish line on specific laps.

Rule	Explanation
Start	All riders begin the race together with a rolling start, often following a neutral lap.
Elimination Laps	After the first few laps, a bell is rung to signal the start of the elimination process.
The Rule	On the following lap, the last rider to cross the finish line (or a designated elimination line) is immediately eliminated from the race.
Frequency	An elimination typically occurs every two laps on a standard 250m track, until only a few riders remain.
Scoring	The action and stress take place at the back of the pack as riders constantly fight to avoid the last position on the elimination laps.
Final Sprint	When only two riders remain, they race the final lap in a head-to-head sprint to determine first and second place.
Winning	The winner is the last rider remaining on the track.

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2. Keirin

The Keirin is a motor-paced sprint race involving up to six to nine riders, famous for its intense tactical buildup and explosive finish.

Rule	Explanation
Pacing	Riders start and follow a motorized pacing vehicle, called a derny (or pacer), which leads them for the majority of the race distance.
Distance	The total race distance is typically about 2 km (8 laps on a 250m track), with the pacer covering the first 521​ laps.
Speed	The pacer starts slowly (around 30 km/h) and gradually increases speed, reaching about 50 km/h for men (and slightly less for women) before it pulls off.
Drafting Rule	Riders must remain behind the pacer for the designated number of laps. Overtaking the pacer before it leaves the track results in immediate disqualification.
Sprint	With a set number of laps remaining (e.g., 221​ laps to go), the pacer swings up onto the banking and off the track, releasing the riders for a full-out, no-holds-barred sprint to the finish.
Jockeying	During the paced section, riders jostle for the best tactical position (usually second or third wheel) to get the optimal draft for the final sprint.
Winning	The first rider to cross the finish line wins. The competition is held over multiple rounds, often including a repechage for eliminated riders to get a second chance to qualify.

The UCI Track World Championships encompass a variety of events, with rules varying for each discipline, but there are general technical and conduct regulations.

General UCI Track Rules

• Fixed Gear: All bicycles must have a fixed gear (no freewheel) and no brakes.
• National Representation: Riders compete for their national cycling association and wear their country’s colors.
• No Hinderance: Riders are prohibited from any maneuver or collusion that is likely to hinder the conduct or distort the result of the race.
• Winning the Rainbow Jersey: Winners of a championship event are awarded the title of World Champion and the coveted rainbow jersey to wear in that specific type of event until the next year’s championships.

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Overview by Event Type

The rules are largely defined by whether the race is a Sprint (short-distance, head-to-head or time trial) or an Endurance (longer-distance, mass-start or pursuit) event.

Sprint Events (e.g., Sprint, Keirin, Team Sprint)

These races often focus on raw speed and tactical positioning.

• Sprint: Starts with a 200m flying time trial to determine seeding, followed by head-to-head elimination rounds over three laps. Tactics involve slowing down to force an opponent into the lead (to utilize the slipstream) before launching a decisive final sprint.
• Keirin: Riders follow a motorized pacer (derny) for a set number of laps to gradually build speed, before the pacer leaves the track and a short, explosive sprint to the finish ensues.
• Team Sprint: Two teams start on opposite sides of the track and race over three laps (for men) or two laps (for women). Each rider leads for one lap before pulling off, leaving the last rider to complete the race for the team’s total time.

Endurance Events (e.g., Pursuit, Points Race, Omnium)

These events test a combination of stamina, speed, and strategy.

• Individual/Team Pursuit: Two riders/teams start on opposite sides and race over a set distance (4km for men’s team, 3km/4km for individual). The winner is the rider/team that catches their opponent or records the fastest time.
• Points Race: A mass-start event where riders accumulate points by winning intermediate sprints (usually every 10 laps) and by lapping the main field (+20 points). The winner is the rider with the most points overall.
• Omnium: A multi-race event where riders compete in four different races (Scratch, Tempo, Elimination, Points Race). Points are awarded for placings in the first three events, which are then carried into the final Points Race where the overall winner is determined by the highest cumulative score.
• Madison: A two-rider team relay race using a hand-sling exchange. Points are awarded for intermediate sprints and for lapping the field, similar to the Points Race.