An Omnium is a multiple race event in track cycling in which all contestants compete against each other in six different disciplines. The omnium determines the best all-round track cyclist, as the disciplines feature both sprint events and endurance events. Riders must have the ability to combine and be competitive in all disciplines to finish well in the event. Generally, the omnium suits endurance riders with higher top speed and a strong sprint. It is also carefully balanced between 3 time trials and 3 mass start events.
The omnium consists of the following disciplines, in order:
A flying lap time trial of 250m.
A points race of 30km for men and 20km for women.
An elimination race of 48 laps (assuming 24 competitors).
An individual pursuit of 4km for men and 3km for women with the riders seeded on how they finished in the scratch race.
A scratch race of 15km for men and 10km for women (or the closest number of laps to that distance).
A 1km time trial for men and a 500m time trial for women.
Points are rewarded in reverse order. The rider who finishes first in an event receives one point, the second rider will get two points and so on. The rider with the fewest points after all events is the winner. When two riders are tied on points, the combined time of the 3 time trials will break the tie amongst the riders. A rider must have completed every event in the omnium.
Omnium was introduced into the World Championships under the 5-race format for men in 2007 and for women in 2009. The omnium was changed in 2010 by the UCI to include aelimination race in 2010 and the distances of the events were lengthened to favor endurance cyclists.
The Omnium will replace the Individual Pursuit, the Points Race, and the Madison at the Olympics beginning with 2012. The change was controversial.
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