- Admin
- #1
Welcome to the unusual world of the cycling event known as the keirin.
First*introduced to the Games in 2000, the keirin is a cycling race that’s widely considered one or the weirdest event in the Olympics.*The main question most viewers unfamiliar with the event have is ‘why is there a motorcycle on the track?’
It’s a reasonable question.
First let’s clarify that within the context of the keirin, the motorcycle the cyclists follow on the track is known as the “derny.” The derny, which used to be gas-powered but is mostly electric these days, is a specially designed motorbike that features a traditional bicycle’s pedals and chain drivetrain.
The derny is capable of very precise acceleration and deceleration. This is important since during the keirin, it’s used for bringing the riders up to speed. You can think of the derny as a being sort of like the cycling equivalent of a pace car in an auto race. Also, as you may have noticed, the derny rider sits upright to provide *a windbreak for the riders behind him.
Still following? Good.
The keirin was invented in Japan and the word itself actually translates as “racing wheels.” The race is a popular betting sport in Japan, drawing huge crowds with an atmosphere similar to what you might find at a horse race.
In the oddly formatted eight-lap race, riders follow behind the derny for the first five and a half laps. While following the derny the riders slowly come up to top speed – about 30*mph for men. Riders behind*the derny jockey for position and prepare to launch incredibly fast attacks for the finishing line.
That’s why you often*see riders elbowing and jostling for position while they are following the derny, as they try and fight their way into their ideal starting position.
After five and a half laps, the derny releases the race and the cyclists sprint to the finish for the remaining two and a half laps, often reaching speeds of around 50 mph. The first rider to cross the line is the winner.
While some riders prefer to position themselves right behind the derny to be as far ahead as possible when the sprint begins, other prefer to remain further back and launch carefully timed attacks from further back in the pack.
The Keirin is a fast-paced sprinter’s race and is actually pretty exciting to watch if you can get past its eccentricities. It can also be dangerous, as evidenced by the crash we saw in the women’s keirin.