SIXDAYS is a series of track cycling events for professional cyclists. The events originally took place over 6 days but modern versions are often 2-3 days long. The series develops an elite-level competition series around the globe combining track cycling with an amazing celebratory party atmosphere.
📜 SIXDAYS Cycling League History
Although Six Day Cycling began in Britain in 1877, the current format is very modern mimicking the style of series like the UCI Track Champions League where entertainment is the aim of the game!
💯 SIXDAYS Cycling Format & Scoring
The series comprises different meetings per season (from October to April), each normally held on 6 consecutive days; although some are shortened to 3 days. Recently, the cities involved in hosting meetings have included London, Berlin, Bremen, Copenhagen, Melbourne, Hong Kong, Manchester, and Brisbane.
SIXDAYS Cycling combines the very best of track cycling with an incredible party atmosphere with music pumping and dramatic light shows. Races include men's and women's elite competition - including keirin, Madison chase, derny, flying time trials, and much more.
The men’s racing is broken into 2 separate competitions: The Elite Men’s (riders compete for the Six Day title); and The Sprinters Competition.
- The Elite Men's - 2-man teams contest 4 events: the Madison as a mass-start event where only 1 rider from each team is allowed in the race at a given time and they hand-sling one another in and out of the race; elimination where every 2 laps the rider at the back of the race is eliminated until 2 remaining riders sprint to win; derny where a rider from each team lines up behind a motorised bike (derny) to gain the slipstream advantage; and the points race over 30 laps
- The Sprinters Competition - includes 3 disciplines: 200 m flying time trial where sprinters take 2 1/2 laps to reach top speed before the clock starts in the final 200 m sprint; a sprint competition where racers are paired up against each other, each trying to out-position their rival in order to launch a dash for the line; and the Keirin where between 3-7 riders compete in a sprint race of 600-700 m after tailing a derny for the first 1,400 m. The derny increases in speed before peeling off and allowing the sprint to begin
Within the Women’s event are 2 categories: The Elite Women’s; and The UCI Women’s Omnium.
- The Elite Women's - includes 3 events: scratch race over 40 laps with first across the line being the winner; elimination race which is the same as the men's; 20 km Madison which is similar to the men's but is 80 laps with sprint intervals of 10 laps
- Women's Omnium - consists of 4 events: a 7.5km scratch race, a 7.5km tempo race, an elimination race, and finally, a 20km points race. The scratch race is first past the line. The tempo race has intermediate sprints occurring every lap after the first 5 laps, with 1 point awarded to the first rider. The elimination sees the rider at the back of the race eliminated every 2 laps. The points for these races are converted into overall points and taken into the final points race, where the event is won as points are awarded for taking a lap and for sprints every 10 laps