Madison (cycling) - The Full Rules

The Full Rules

The official rules of the madison, traditionally regarded as being hard to follow, are stated as follows by British Cycling, the British Governing Body of Cycling :

• Teams shall be of two or three riders wearing the same colours and number. (In the Olympics and World Championships, teams compete in pairs)
• There must be one rider of each team in the race at all times.
• Riders may relieve each other at any time during the race.
• Changing shall take place below the stayers line and as near to the inside edge of the track as practicable.
• Relieved riders must take up a position outside the stayers line as soon as it is safe and practicable.
• Changing shall be by one rider drawing level with the other and touching to denote relief.
• The touch may be a push or handsling.
• The winners of the race shall be the team which gains the most laps on the other teams.
• If two or more teams are on the same lap, the result shall be determined by the team which has won the most sprint points during the race.
• Should there be an equality of laps and points, the winners shall be the best placed team in the final sprint.
• The race shall end when the leading team has completed the distance.
• Lapped riders need not fulfil lost laps, and shall be placed as so many laps behind the winners.
• At pre-determined times during the race there will be sprints for points, with the first four teams over the line gaining 5, 3, 2 and 1 points respectively.
• A whistle shall be blown to indicate one lap to go before a sprint.
• A bell will be rung at the start of the last lap.
• Teams that rejoin the field, after gaining or losing laps, shall be eligible for sprint points.
• Should one member of a team suffer a puncture or mishap, he will be allowed to rejoin the race. However, his partner should rejoin the race within two laps being covered by the field from the point at which the incident occurred. The Chief Commissaire will pair the rider in the race with another team which is at the same relative position in the race. The rider will ride 'in and out' with the nominated member of the other team until his partner rejoins the race.
• Any team retiring from the race shall inform the Chief Commissaire immediately.
• Teams may be disciplined by losing points, losing laps or disqualification.
• The Chief Commissaire may neutralise a race should it be considered necessary to do so, as in the case of a crash involving several teams or the track becoming unsafe or impracticable for use.
• The Chief Commissaire may terminate a race before the full distance should it be considered essential to do so.
• The Chief Commissaire may withdraw teams who fall too many laps behind or who, in his opinion, may constitute a danger to other riders.