Keirin returns to Herne Hill Velodrome this month - not too late to enter, free to watch (+ gallery)

A week on Sunday, Herne Hill Velodrome will play host to the second edition of ‘Keirin,’ with a full afternoon of racing dedicated to the motor-paced track discipline. It’s not too late to enter, and if you simply want to go along and watch, entry is free.

Last year’s inaugural edition (see the gallery above) was a huge success, say organisers Rollapaluza. They add that they expect a strong entry including a number of riders from the continent for the main events.

They will be seeking to succeed Rio Olympics hopeful Kian Emadi and Rachel James, sister of world Keirin champion, Becky, to the men’s and women’s titles.

If you’ve never tried Keirin racing but want to have a go, it’s not too late to enter, and full details of the event, which runs from noon to 6pm on Sunday 25 August at Herne Hill Velodrome, Burbage Road, London SE24 can be found on its website.

Keirin racing originated in Japan in the late 1940s and has featured in the Olympic Games since Sydney in 2000, a BBC investigation in 2008 suggesting that its incorporation in the programme may have been assisted by the prospect of  the Japanese Keirin Association making payments to the UCI, a claim that world cycling’s governing body has denied.

As for the name, it’s Japanese for “racing wheels.”