Track cycling
What lap pace do I need to hit my pursuit time?
Enter the time you want to ride and how long your standing-start lap takes. It tells you the pace for the remaining laps, the speed and the cadence on your gear.
The event
Your gear
- Flying lap pace
- 15.70 s
- Flying speed
- 57.3 km/h
- Average speed
- 56.5 km/h
- Flying cadence
- 110 rpm
The start lap is separate because it starts from a standstill. The rest are spread evenly: this is the average pace you need, not the optimal pacing.
Lap-by-lap schedule
| Lap | Lap time | Elapsed |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19.50 | 19.50 |
| 2 | 15.70 | 35.20 |
| 3 | 15.70 | 50.90 |
| 4 | 15.70 | 1:06.60 |
| 5 | 15.70 | 1:22.30 |
| 6 | 15.70 | 1:38.00 |
| 7 | 15.70 | 1:53.70 |
| 8 | 15.70 | 2:09.40 |
| 9 | 15.70 | 2:25.10 |
| 10 | 15.70 | 2:40.80 |
| 11 | 15.70 | 2:56.50 |
| 12 | 15.70 | 3:12.20 |
| 13 | 15.70 | 3:27.90 |
| 14 | 15.70 | 3:43.60 |
| 15 | 15.70 | 3:59.30 |
| 16 | 15.70 | 4:15.00 |
Average pace is not optimal pacing
SuperRecord works out the pursuit lap by lap with the rider’s CdA, CP and W′, the standing start and the lean in the bends, and tells you which splits they can really hold.
Frequently asked questions
How many laps is a 4 km pursuit?
On a 250 m velodrome, 16 laps. On a 333.33 m track, 12, and on a 200 m track, 20.
Why is the first lap separate?
Because it starts from a standstill and much of the effort goes into getting the bike up to speed: it is always well slower than the rest.
Is even pacing best in the pursuit?
After the start, riding close to an even pace is a good reference. Optimal pacing depends on the rider and how much anaerobic reserve they have left on each lap, which is what the platform works out.
Which gear should I use for the pursuit?
The one that puts you at your cruising cadence at the flying speed shown above. The gear calculator tells you which chainring and cog combinations do that.