Team Pursuit

Team Pursuit

Requires the techniques of maintaining top speed and exchanging the lead with teammates.
Two teams of four riders each start on opposite sides of the track and pursue each other trying to catch one another or take the lead at the end of a designated time period. Teammates cut down on wind resistance by alternately riding behind each other.

Start Race Development Pistol Signal

- The members of each team must either line up in a single line at 1 meter intervals at the starting line or line up in a 45 degree line in respect to the starting line.

- It is ideal to have the teammate on the innermost portion of the track to start using a starting block.

- The teammate on the innermost portion must stay in the lead until the first exchange of places.
The teammates exchange places while pursing the competing team a half lap away. A pistol is fired once to notify racers that either they have been passed or the race has otherwise finished.

Timing of Position Exchanges Winning by Passing Passing Team

The lead teammate who exchanges positions avoids the right side of the track, using the drop of the banks so as not to move away from the team, and then continuing the race behind their team. Normally, positions are exchanged every half lap on 400 m and 500 m banks and every lap on 333 m banks. Passing is determined when the crank shaft of the third rider passes that of the other team's third rider, even if this occurs before 4,000 m has been ridden. After the quarterfinals, a passed team stops when the pistol sounds because average speed is calculated based on the time of a half lap. Up to the quarterfinals, the passing team continues the remaining designated race distance in order to measure their finish time.

Passed Team Finish Determining the Winner

The passed team is disqualified and stops riding in the race. The time is measured up to the moment the front wheel of the team's third member arrives at the finish line. The crank axle position determines the winner.

Determining Race Finish

Distinctive Characteristics of Track Bicycles for 4 km Team Pursuit

Uses a softer frame and there are models that use 24-inch wheels on both the back and front to make it easier to approach the rider in front. Also has a funny shape with a DH bar.

Copyright, 1998-1999 Bicycling Popularization Association of Japan. All rights reserved.

Start	Race Development	Pistol Signal
- The members of each team must either line up in a single line at 1 meter intervals at the starting line or line up in a 45 degree line in respect to the starting line. - It is ideal to have the teammate on the innermost portion of the track to start using a starting block. - The teammate on the innermost portion must stay in the lead until the first exchange of places.	The teammates exchange places while pursing the competing team a half lap away.	A pistol is fired once to notify racers that either they have been passed or the race has otherwise finished.
Timing of Position Exchanges	Winning by Passing	Passing Team
The lead teammate who exchanges positions avoids the right side of the track, using the drop of the banks so as not to move away from the team, and then continuing the race behind their team. Normally, positions are exchanged every half lap on 400 m and 500 m banks and every lap on 333 m banks.	Passing is determined when the crank shaft of the third rider passes that of the other team's third rider, even if this occurs before 4,000 m has been ridden. After the quarterfinals, a passed team stops when the pistol sounds because average speed is calculated based on the time of a half lap.	Up to the quarterfinals, the passing team continues the remaining designated race distance in order to measure their finish time.
Passed Team	Finish	Determining the Winner
The passed team is disqualified and stops riding in the race.	The time is measured up to the moment the front wheel of the team's third member arrives at the finish line.	The crank axle position determines the winner.
Determining Race Finish
Determining Race Finish

Distinctive Characteristics of Track Bicycles for 4 km Team Pursuit
	Uses a softer frame and there are models that use 24-inch wheels on both the back and front to make it easier to approach the rider in front. Also has a funny shape with a DH bar.