Madison

This is a drill for experienced riders only. Riders need to have graduated from the Madison drill program.

A Madison requires matching jerseys for team members. Do not attempt this drill unless each team has distinctive, identical jerseys!

It is not necessary for riders to start from the rail except in a race. Riders simply get up on the track, one team member on the blue, the other on the black, and start exchanging as they come up to one another. Eventually, a pace line will form composed of riders on the black.

Be sure that relief riders are spread out around the track and that they ride at the first set of rivets above the blue. Also be sure that they are in the right order if they are within only a few bike lengths of one another. If there are riders out doing their first madisons, remind them of the 4 main rules:

• if riding close to others while on relief, be careful to be lined up in the same order as your partners on the black line, try to maintain good separation from other relief riders and good distance above the blue line,

• look at people’s jerseys and don’t come between team members about to make an exchange,

• ride over top of riders who have just thrown their team mates into the race (above all do not stay on the wheel of a rider about to throw his partner into the race!)

• get down on the coté after an exchange and wait until all racing riders are past before moving up to the blue.

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