Sixdays Cycling

Munich's 41st "Sixdays" track cycling competition started at the Olympiapark on Thursday (11.Nov.2004). This is the largest track cycling event in Europe and one of the highlights of the Munich sporting year. Now, you might be thinking, "What on Earth is so interesting about watching cyclists going round and round in circles? More boring than F1 surely?" Well, actually, track cycling is interesting. And makes a great spectator sport. ..read why

[img]http://www.toytowngermany.com/munich/sixdays_cycling_munich.jpg[/img]

Track cycling is a form of cycle racing held on specially-built banked tracks or velodromes. The bikes used are 'fixed wheel', i.e. they have no gears. This means that the cyclist must choose his gearing carefully before the race. The gearing must allow them to bomb along at 60 Km/h, but also to accelerate from stand-still. At full speed the legs are flying like you wouldn't believe!

There are numerous formats to the races. There is the Individual Pursuit, the Team Pursuit, Sprint, Points Race, Madison, Keirin, and the Devil-Take-the-Hindmost race. None of these races are timed. Instead the cyclists race against each other and the first to cross the finish line wins. This leads to all sorts of tactical play as the racers move in and out of each other's slipstream. In the team events two competitors from the same team can grab hold and give each other a 'sling shot'.

There is even a certain race where the cyclists actually stand on the start line, stationary, with feet in the pedals, for as long as possible before racing off. The idea is that the first person to start is usually the one who looses. So they all hang back deliberately and try to psych each other out. The first to break will lead initially. But the followers will be carried in his slipstream only to overtake at the last minute. Apparently the longest ever race took nearly an hour! For something like 59 minutes the cyclists were stationary then the race was all over one minute and one lap later.

Many of the competitors this year will be champions fresh back from the Olympic games in Athens.

In addition to the racing there are a whole bunch of other entertainments. DJ Karsten Kiessling from Radio Gong will be taking care of the PA and warming up the crowd. There will also be various light shows and music.

Munich Sixdays Cycling:

Thursday -- 11.Nov.2004 ... from 6.45 pm
Friday -- 12.Nov.2004 ... from 7pm
Saturday -- 13.Nov.2004 ... from 7pm
Sunday -- 14.Nov.2004 ... from 3pm
Monday -- 15.Nov.2004 ... from 7pm
Tuesday -- 16.Nov.2004 ... from 7pm

Tickets are €13 to €38 depending on day and seating. They can be bought online in advance (see website) or at the door.

Olympiapark München, Olympiahalle
Spiridon-Louis-Ring 21, 80809 München
Take the U-Bahn U3 North to Olympiapark.
Website: 6 Tage Rennen

It is well worth going to watch. Went there last year and had a real laugh. There were lots of things going on around the arena to keep you amused if you got bored of the cycling.

The "stand around waiting" event is the sprint. One of the weirdest things I have ever seen. The authorities took measures to prevent the long stand-offs by banning the riders from stopping altogether. They have to be in constant motion albeit at a very slow pace for the first 2 laps.

the last night is the best. the earlier nights can be fun (take hip flasks) but normally it all comes down to the 6th night. enjoy!

Have tickets for Monday, maybe Ill get a few pics to share.

This, in all seriousness, is the most exciting event I've ever been too ! Actually - I love this sport, and I never even heard of cycling before I went !!

I thought I was going on Mike's bike tour ... big shock, trust me !

i went to it on sunday with my bf... i actually wasnt too excited about going but couldnt thihnk of a good enough excuse to get out of it.. so i sucked it up and went.. and it turned out to be really cool! i've never really been interested in the sport and i figured watching ppl ride bikes around in a circle wouldnt be too much fun..but it was definately exciting and i had alotta fun. o but beware..the band and their dancers are sooo cheesy.