Gentlemen, to your positions
The crowd is sparse. Online betting has all but killed off live spectating
Track entry is roughly 35p
Checking the odds
“We were about 20 years younger than anyone else there,” says Laura
Riders are led by a human pacer, unlike the motorised European version
Even with padding removed, the racers resemble rugby players more than road cyclists
Please remove your footwear
A little pre-race balance practice…
…and some limbering-up
Roller routine
Bikes are pleasingly low-tech. Steel frames and spoked wheels are compulsory
Final ‘adjustments’
And they’re off
No luck this time… Discarded betting slips
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