Omnium, Madison, Points, Scratch and Elimination

Put twenty riders on a 250 m track and the racing becomes a moving chess game. The bunch races, or endurance mass-start events, are where tactics, positioning and stamina decide everything, and where young riders often reveal the race sense that later makes them professionals on the road.

Scratch race

The simplest of all: a set number of laps, and the first rider across the line at the end wins. Riders can gain a lap on the field, which counts in their favour. Scratch races often end in a bunch sprint, but a strong rider can win alone with a perfectly timed attack. At the Cairo junior worlds Canada's Carson Mattern won the men's race and Germany's Jette Simon the women's.

Points race

Every ten laps there is an intermediate sprint, with points for the first four riders (5, 3, 2 and 1). The final sprint scores double. Lapping the field earns 20 points; being lapped costs 20. A rider can win the points race without winning a single sprint, simply by taking laps. It rewards riders who can attack repeatedly and still sprint. In Cairo, Dylan Bibic won the men's points race, a year before becoming elite world champion in the scratch.

Elimination race

Sometimes called "devil take the hindmost": every two laps, the last rider across the line is eliminated, until two remain for a final sprint. It punishes riders who drift to the back, and it is wonderful to watch because the danger is always in the same place. South Africa's Joshua Dike won the men's elimination in Cairo, the only African gold of the championships.

Madison

Named after Madison Square Garden in New York, where six-day races were held, the madison is raced by teams of two. Only one rider from each team is racing at any moment; the other circles slowly high on the banking. They change places with a hand-sling, the active rider grabbing the partner's hand and throwing them into the race. Sprints for points come every ten laps, and lapping the field counts. It is the most complex event in cycling to follow, and the most spectacular when you get the hang of it.

Omnium

The omnium is a four-race competition in one day: a scratch race, a tempo race (where the first rider over the line each lap scores a point after the opening laps), an elimination race, and a final points race in which riders carry their points from the first three events. It rewards the most complete endurance rider. Radovan Štec of the Czech Republic and Inna Abaidullina won the junior omnium titles in Cairo.

What to watch for

• Teams within the race. National teammates in different events, and madison partners, work together.
• Lap gains. In the points race, madison and omnium points race, a group gaining a lap can turn the standings upside down.
• The final ten laps. Positioning for the last sprint begins long before the bell.
• Crashes. In crowded bunches on steep bankings they happen, and the neutralisation rules matter.

For the timed events, read pursuit and time trial; for the sprints, sprint, keirin and team sprint.