Track Omnium
The men's omnium race was reintroduced into the track cycling World Championships in 2007 as a five event competition.
However for the 2012 Olympics as defined by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) each competitor competes in six events over two consecutive days. The events are:-
- Flying lap
- Points race (30 km) (20km for women)
- Elimination race (Often called 'Devil take the Hindmost' or 'Devil')
- Individual pursuit (4 km) (2km for women)
- Scratch race
- Kilometre time trial
Points are awarded in reverse order, with the winning rider of each event getting one point, and the rider with the lowest number of points overall 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
To win the omnium, you've got to be good at sprinting, time-trialling and bunch racing.
Cycling Ulster's Martyn Irvine from Newtownards has been training hard for this event and has been steadily rising through the rankings with the hope of gaining a place in the 2012 Olympic Games.
- Martyn Irvine in action in the men's omnium
