The distance changes coming to track cycling in 2025

There are several distance changes coming to track cycling in 2025, and full credit to you if you were already aware of the changes, because it was a quiet drop.

Tucked away in a single paragraph of a May news release from the UCI were a few notable official regulation amendments.

From January 1, 2025, elite and junior women will be doubling their efforts in the time trial (TT) and racing over a kilometre.

A kilometre increase to the elite women's individual pursuit (IP) will also come into effect, creating distance parity for men and women for the TT and IP.

Here's the full list of distance adaptions coming in 18 months:

• 500m TT becomes 1000m TT for elite and junior women
• 3000m IP becomes 4000m IP for elite women
• 2000m IP becomes 3000m IP for junior women
• Scratch race will be raced over 10km for elite men and women (previously 15km for men)
• Scratch race will be raced over 7.5km for junior men and women (previously 10km for men)
• Elite and junior women's tempo race in the omnium to be aligned with men and increased to 10km from 7.5km

Naturally we wanted to know what some of our top trackies thought after discovering the changes, so here's what four had to say.

Sarah Roy

My immediate reaction to the IP going from 3km to 4km is that it’s going to hurt a lot when it already hurts so much!

Experienced road pro Sarah Roy is a latecomer to track but impressed at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Picture: Guy Swarbrick

I think the change will be interesting to see who and what type of riders excel at it. It might not be the same names we keep seeing filling the podiums, as I think the added length will obviously require more endurance. The 3k has gotten quite fast the last couple of years and starting to lean more towards the sprinter type riders.

It will for sure take a slightly different training approach with the added length but will probably reduce the significance/importance of the standing start even more than now and could really suit a lot of roadies out there so who knows, we might see some more interest which could be good too.

I think initially riders might take a while to adjust but eventually the times and abilities for the event will catch up and average speeds will be close to that of the 3k in my opinion.

Alessia McCaig

It was a little bit of a shock when I first read the message, but then I was excited for the challenge.

Alessia McCaig is the current elite women's 500m TT national champion. Picture: Josh Chadwick

I don’t think it changes too much about the racing, but it will change the training to incorporate some longer efforts.

I personally welcome any expansion of events in the women’s programme. A kilometre would be a challenge for me and I haven't made up my mind about whether I like the change but I am excited by the prospect of having a go and I trust our coaches.

Breanna Hargrave

Immediate reaction - surprised. However, I do think with the women's team sprint going to three people (like the men) that these do make sense.

The doubling of the time trial distance for women could be to Breanna Hargrave's advantage come 2025. Picture: Josh Chadwick

In regards to racing a kilo and training for it I think it will potentially suit riders that prefer bigger gears and also sprinters with some endurance background too.

The other thing is riders will likely be using TT bars for the 1000m, and most of the women riding the 500m use sprint bars currently. But this is something that can be worked on in training.

I think I do like the change. Racing the same distance as the men is great and we can learn a lot from the way they have approached the event.

Kate Bates