The omnium is a multi-discipline event that takes place all in the same day, with four different bunch races.

In the first three races, the riders finishing position equates to a number of points to their total.

The last race counts as the points scored in the race itself, meaning much can change, even late on.

First is the Scratch race, which is the most simple of track races. The first to complete the distance wins – but some riders might try and attack to lap the rest of the bunch. Even if they came last in the sprint for the line, they would win by virtue of being on the lead lap.

Then it’s the Tempo race. The first four laps are considered neutral, but after that whoever is first across the line each lap gains a point – most points at the end of the race wins.

There is another way to gain points and that’s by lapping the rest of the riders, that will gain you 20 points – so it is a very worthwhile endeavour if you can get it, because you’ll get 20 for the lap, plus any lap points for the laps lead on the way to gaining on the rest of the riders. Whoever has the most points at the end of the race wins.

Once that is done, comes the Elimination. Last one across the line every two laps is out. This can lead to very close racing and often the back of the race is more entertaining than the front. Daredevil moments are abound in this race.

The final race is the Points race. Each rider starts with the points they have accumulated from their positions in the previous race, and then every ten laps there is a sprint.

They accumulate five points for first, three for second, two for third, and one for fourth in the sprints, adding to their total overall.

Here, gaining a lap on the other riders gains 20 points to their total too. The only exception to the sprint rule is the final sprint at the end of the race counts for double. Quite often you will have the favourites follow one another round to ensure their rivals don’t gain a lap, and racing can be both frenetic and tense in equal measure.

The Cycling Track program is from 5th August to 11th August.

The men’s Omnium occurs on 8th August,.

The women’s takes place on 11th August.