A scratch race is a track cycling race in which all riders start together and the objective is simply to be first over the finish line after a certain number of laps.
UCI regulations specify that a scratch race should be held over 15 km for Elite Men and 10 km for Elite Women.[1] Shorter distances of 10 km for men and 7.5 km for women may be used for qualifying rounds.[1] Racers line up along the inner sprinter's rail and along the outer railing.[1] The riders take a neutralised lap before the starting pistol is fired for the official start.[1] A lapped rider must leave the race once they are overtaken by the peloton.[1] There are no intermediate points or sprints. One tactic is for a rider, or more often a group of riders, to break away and attempt to gain a lap on the rest of the field. The peloton cannot be lapped; but that rider or those riders cannot be beaten by anyone in the peloton.
The format favors endurance sprinters.[2]