Rouleur 21: Keirin Part Two

_{All images © Taz Darling & Rouleur}

Words: Guy Andrews | Photographs: Taz Darling

“Riders are assembling and adjusting their bikes, replacing sprockets and chains. With all this tinkering going on, it has the appearance of an amateur track meet, not the highest prize-winning track final in the world.”

“They stretch and shout aloud. The atmosphere has changed in an instant. It feels immediately charged, and the waiting area suddenly falls into silence. As they are called to the gate, the racers wait behind the doors of the entrance to the track. It feels more like the Coliseum than a velodrome.”

“As night falls and the final approaches, fireworks and fanfares welcome the big hitters to the track and the big stars of keirin are introduced to the crowd. There’s more bowing and ceremony, and once the racing is underway, the sprint for the line is a confusing muddle of cheering and flashbulbs.”