Keirin (from the Japanese 競輪 / ケイリン) is a track event that emerged in Japan after the Second World War.
The race of about 2 kilometers first follows a pacer (the leader who sets the tempo), who gradually builds up speed from 25 to 50 km/h and leaves the track 600–700 meters before the finish. The pacer rides a so-called derny (an electric bike), named in honor of its designer, the Frenchman Roger Derny.
Victory goes to the first rider across the finish line. Depending on the length of the track, the race may be 8, 6 or 5 laps (a 250-meter oval — 8 laps, 333 m — 6, 400 m — 5).
It has been part of the UCI men’s World Championships program since 1980, and the women’s since 2002.
[youtube height=”HEIGHT” width=”WIDTH”]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aPBqwfj_mQ[/youtube]
Translated from Georgian with the assistance of Claude (Anthropic), reviewed by the Velorbola editors.
In history, only three riders have won all five Monuments: [...]
April 15, 2019
