At the start of endurance races, such as the Elimination Race, riders line up at the bottom of the track, where they are held up by their coaches so they don't fall over, or at the top of the track, clinging to the barrier, or "fence" that separates spectators from the track.

In the Elimination Race, also known as 'Devil Take the Hindmost' there is a sprint every second lap, with the last rider over the line each time eliminated from the race. With a maximum of 24 competitors it is a wild and exhausting spectacle, and one of the most exciting events in track cycling.