Keirin

Keirin is a track cycling race in which riders follow a motorized pacer before sprinting for the finish. It originated in Japan and developed into both a professional sport and an Olympic event.

Derny: A small motorized bicycle used to pace cyclists in races. A derny leads riders before moving off the track to release the keirin sprint.
Japanese keirin: The professional form of keirin developed and regulated in Japan. Japan’s domestic racing system established keirin’s traditions and much of its distinctive format.
Olympic cycling: Bicycle racing events contested at the Olympic Games. Keirin became an Olympic track event in 2000, adapting a Japanese race for international competition.
Individual sprint: A track cycling event in which two riders race head-to-head over a short distance. Unlike keirin, the individual sprint has no motorized pacer or mass start.
Keirin pacer: A motorized bicycle rider who sets the pace during the opening phase of a keirin race. The pacer gradually raises speed before leaving the track near the finish.
Japan: An island country in East Asia with a long history of organized bicycle racing. Keirin emerged in Japan after World War II as a public betting sport.
UCI Track Cycling World Championships: Annual world championship competitions for track cycling disciplines. Keirin is contested there as an elite international championship event.
Team sprint: A track cycling race in which teams of riders take turns leading for short laps. It uses coordinated pacing, but teams rather than a motorbike control the race’s speed.
Track cycling: Bicycle racing on a banked oval track, usually in a velodrome. Keirin is a track discipline whose tactics depend on the velodrome’s banking and short laps.
Public sports betting in Japan: A regulated system in Japan that allows public betting on designated sports. Legal wagering revenues helped fund and sustain professional keirin racing.

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