Time trials seem to be the easiest, you just go hard till the gun goes off. But even the 200 meter has strategy involved.

The 200 meter is done from a flying start with a total of three laps in most situations. This gives way to two strategies, the flying lap and then just the 200M. I myself go back and forth each time, but currently like the flying lap. The method for both is to just go easy the first lap on the red line, some go up to the blue and get some height the first time through corner three and four. Then at the start of lap two you need to go up track and get some speed at the exit of corner two. You only have a lap and a half left and this is where is varies.

For the flying lap you need to get a little more speed down the back stretch and go about 90% up the grade on corner three. It's full speed at the top and down corner four where you aim for between the blue and red going into corner one while getting the bell. Slowly come down to the red line around corner two and hold the red line still going all out on the back stretch, the time starts when you cross the big black line in corner two. By staying on the red line on the back stretch you have a much better chance to hold the corner, and at this point just go. Where ever you come out of corner four just hold that spot, don't try to get back to the black line, it will only slow you down. Likely you will be blown at this point so just think spin, spin, spin and get it to the line.

If you opt for the more fun method you won't go as hard with a lap and a half to go. Then you will go about 75% up corner three and pick it up just slightly down the front stretch holding tight against the rail. You should be at 90% as you hear the bell, then attack corner one at the rail full speed. This will allow you to go over the Alpenrose sign and dive down right into the corner aiming for just above where the red line meets the 200 meter line. Once again from here it is the same as above, just hold the red line on the back stretch and try your best to go below red line as you go through corner three. By the time you are going through four it is just hold where ever you end up and get to the line.

Note: If you are standing up after the 200 meter line, you didn't get your best time. You should be at full speed already so standing up at this point will not help.

Standing Start 500M: Lap Times
The 500M is pretty easy, just go, go hard and once again watch out for the red line black line thing. It is amazing how much harder it is to hold you line when go as fast as you do during these sprint time trials. You will be starting just above the black line right in front of the 200 meter line with a finish a lap and 7/8 right behind you in the middle of corner one and two. The start is critical for this race and the good ones will stand and accelerate for a whole lap. I would say if you make it back to the primary finish line out of the saddle you have done good. Your basic goal should be to stay as close to the black line as possible and spin your legs as fast as possible, so practice, practice, practice. TT Bars are optional in this event and I opt for not.

Standing Start Kilo: Lap Times
Not easy, imagine the 500 meter, then double it. Most of us can't sprint for 1000 meters so if you go for it, you will find the monkey on your back. If you don't know what the monkey is, just try to sprint for 4 laps and you will find out exactly how heavy it can get. So what to do? Well start conservative, but strong, same start line as the 500M but you finish about 15 meters past the big white finish line, so pay attention.

You want to build up speed steadily not quickly by again standing all the way to the finish line (two straights and one corner), I will then ease into corner one and two in the drops before dropping into the TT bars on the back straight (I recommend bars for this track only if you have practiced allot). At this point you are at or near your max speed and should hold that for the next lap. Those who say go for negative splits are dreaming. Of all the riders I have timed at every level of event very few (near 0) really do negative splits. Plus a negative split is much harder to get right (you might end up with too much left).

So you are going max speed and finishing your second lap. If you did it right you will be wondering what's up as you start on your third lap. You won't be totally blown, but you can't believe that you could hold this any longer. Well it is only a lap and a half to go as you start to enter corner three and this is the critical part of the race. If you can just hold this speed one more lap you will do fine. Don't worry about the final 200 meters just yet, think that you just need to get to the bell then get to the 200 meter line where you started. At this point the pain is real and you will be slowing down, don't worry just go, try to spin, think spin, think spin. Somehow you will make it to the finish line and you will be so happy when you cross the line. Oops were you too tired to go the real finish? Remember you have to go past the primary white and black finish to another line just before corner one.

Pursuits come in a few different flavors, but I am just going to mention the 3k/4k here. The first thing you will notice about pursuits is that it is normally done by two racers at a time versus one, hence the name pursuit. But the basic idea is the same, go faster than you did the last time you did it. For the Men is 14 and 9/10 laps with the start just before either corner one or three. The women, masters and juniors start at the exit of either corner two or four on the apron and go 11 1/6 laps. Both the 4k and 3k finish in the middle of the straights on the red line (called the pursuit line) and on the same side that you started.

The general idea of standing for almost a lap at the start still applies so you should really be practicing this if you want to do well in a standing TT. However your start should be very smooth in a pursuit, as it is way too easy to over do it. Your goal should be to get into a tempo as soon as possible and not freak out too much when you hear that your first full lap is a little fast. But it is not good to go much under one second below your goal split time.

Once you get up to the pursuit distance you really need someone to give you splits if there is not a visible lap clock. The idea is that they will read you two numbers or signal you that are on pace, need to speed up or slow down. If they read a time it is easiest to read the second and the tenth of a second, so a 21.37 would read "One", "Three". They also need to give this info out as you are about 5 to 10 meters away so that you hear it when you go by. I will also use my hand to say "OK", thumb up to tell you to go faster and thumb down to say go slower.

Again there are many ways to race a pursuit, and once again I do not like the negative split idea, it is just too hard to get right. So after a smooth start and a not too fast second lap (one second below target time) you should be maintaining an even split time as long as possible. The only way to know what this time is to go out and ride on the track for a while to warm up and then start picking up the pace. Just keep going and have someone time you for about 10 to 15 laps while riding as close to the black line as you can. You will likely see the times start a little slow hit a peak and then come back down. Look at the times and pick one that felt hard but livable (as close to your peak as you can).

The pursuit is a big mental game like the kilo, but one that lasts more than three to four times as long. So after you settle into your pace you have to try to maintain it. After the halfway mark I start to try to pick it up just to make sure I maintain my speed. It is from lap 7 to 11 that always kill me(4k), I am a sprinter so the last few laps are always a bit easier, but the third kilo is the one I watch out for. Just keep it smooth and don't stand up for the final lap, you should use that energy at about 2 or 3 laps to go to steadily pick up the pace if you have the energy to do so.

One last note, if you find yourself going against someone who is close to you, try not to look. Play your game and go for your best time, the crowd will let you know if you are close and you can feed off of that much better than by looking around. So don't look, just feel the energy from the people around you to give it that little extra to beat you opponent.

- Jamie Mikami