A scratch race is a cycling race in which all contestants start from scratch (on equal terms). Finishing order is based on the final order across the line at the completion of the race; there are no intermediate points or sprints. If one or more riders gains an entire lap on the peloton and keeps this to the finish, this advantage places them ahead of the other riders with fewer laps completed.
On the track, scratch races can be over various distances e.g.
Since 2002 the scratch race is part of the UCI track world championships (see men winners, women winners).
|
||||||||||||||