Scratch race

A scratch race is a track cycling race in which all riders start together and the objective is simply to be first over the finish line after a certain number of laps.

UCI regulations specify that a scratch race should be held over 15 km for Elite Men and 10 km for Elite Women.^[1] Shorter distances of 10 km for men and 7.5 km for women may be used for qualifying rounds.^[1] Racers line up along the inner sprinter's rail and along the outer railing.^[1] The riders take a neutralised lap before the starting pistol is fired for the official start.^[1] A lapped rider must leave the race once they are overtaken by the peloton.^[1] There are no intermediate points or sprints. One tactic is for a rider, or more often a group of riders, to break away and attempt to gain a lap on the rest of the field. The peloton cannot be lapped; but that rider or those riders cannot be beaten by anyone in the peloton.

The format favors endurance sprinters.^[2]