The Olympic track cycling gets underway in Tokyo's velodrome on Monday, with Team GB likely contenders for numerous medals.

A vast array of events take place on the track which require tactics as well as pure speed. 

With athletes hitting speeds of up to 60mph, crashes can be catastrophic, particularly on the smooth surface. 

But what makes the track's surface so smooth, and how long is a single circuit?

Here's what you need to know about Tokyo's velodrome track.

What is the velodrome track made of? 

The Tokyo Olympics velodrome track is made of wood. 

Velodrome track surfaces can vary in material depending on budget and level of venue. 

Olympic quality tracks are usually made of timber or synthetics while older or cheaper tracks can be surfaced with concrete, macadam or cinder. 

The Olympic track will be perfectly smooth meaning athletes who crash are likely to slide for a long time in their aerodynamic suits. 

This can lead to severe friction burn among other injuries.

The London 2012 velodrome track was laid with Siberian pine, as was the track in Rio. 

How long is the velodrome track?

The track is a 250m long loop with 45 degree banks. 

These angles allow the athletes to maintain speed as they travel round the bends. 

Track bikes are fixed wheel with no gears and no breaks meaning cyclists cannot stop pedalling. 

What do the different coloured lines on the track mean?

The velodrome track features black, red and blue lines. 

Right on the inside of the track there is the so called cote d'azur which signal the edge of the trak and is sometimes blocked off to prevent riders from taking shortcuts. 

The black line is 20cm above the cote d'azur and marks the shortest route around the track so athletes will want to stay as close to this as possible. 

70cm above the black line is the red, otherwise known as the sprinter's line. 

The sprinters channel is between the black and red line.

Competitors wanting to overtake the lead rider must ride round the red line and only cross their path once the overtake is completed. 

Finally the blue line is further up the track and tends to be used in events like the Madison to allow racers to recover between legs. 

In the Madison, resting riders will circulate above the blue line until they are tagged back into racing. 

What factors can impact the speed of racing in the velodrome?

Even though it's an indoor event, the weather and air pressure can impact the speed of the racers in the velodrome, because they contribute to air density.

The higher the air density, the more difficult it is to push through the air which can cause big upset when hundredths of seconds divide first and fourth place.  

The fastest conditions tend to be produced when there is low air pressure and high temperature.