In an attempt to make the event easier to follow for spectators the omnium will now end in a points race with the rider accumulating the highest number of points declared the winner.

Previously, the rider with the least amount of points won the event.

The old system saw the winners of each discipline awarded one point for a win, two for second, three for third running all the way down with riders awarded the same number of points to correspond with their finishing position.

From now on, the scoring system will run the opposite way with each winner awarded 40 points for a win, 38 for second, 36 for third and working its way down to 21st.

Riders in 21st place and below will be awarded one point each.

The riders' overall points tally will be taken in to the final round points race and added to, or subtracted from (should they lose a lap), meaning spectators can follow the overall classification as it happens.

The rider who finishes the points race with the highest points tally will be awarded the gold medal.

The six-event omnium competition will now finish with a points race at which will see the rider with the highest number of points winning the gold medal ©AFP/Getty Images



Under the new rules, competitors will still compete in six events over the two days of the omnium competition but will start off with a scratch race followed by the individual pursuit - 4 kilometres for men and 3km for women – then the elimination race, followed by a 1km time trial for men and 500 metre for women.

Under the old format, the time trial was the final of the six events.

The fifth event will be a flying lap against the clock while the competition will culminate in a 40km points race for men and 25km for women.

The new format will come into effect at all future World Cups, World Championships and Olympic Games.

The omnium was first introduced at the 2010 World Championships in Denmark and made its Olympic debut at London 2012.

The event was designed to ensure a more balanced representation of women in cycling events at the Games with the UCI removing the men's individual pursuit, points race and madison disciplines and incorporating them into the new omnium competition.

The move was met with criticism from some quarters with the likes of Britain's Sir Bradley Wiggins unable to defend his individual pursuit title from Beijing 2008.

Denmark's Lasse Norman Hansen won the men's omnium title at London 2012 while Laura Trott delighted home fans by taking the women's crown.

Meanwhile, in the team pursuit the format at World Cups and World Championships has been amended to match that used at Olympic Games with the top eight teams riding three times rather than two.

The team pursuit event has also been amended by the UCI which will see the format at World Cups and World Championships follow that used in the Olympics ©AFP/Getty Images



Following the qualifying rounds to determine the top eight teams the first round of competition will then see the fastest team race against the fourth fastest and the second fastest against the third fastest.

The winners of these two races will compete for the gold medal to guarantee two of the four fastest teams will claim the overall win.

Meanwhile, the fifth fastest team from the qualifying rounds will race against the eighth fastest with the sixth fastest up against the seventh quickest.

These teams will then be ranked by the best time with the two fastest teams going through to compete for the bronze medal while the next two fastest ride for fifth and sixth places and the final two for seventh and eighth.

The amended formats for both the omnium and team pursuit events can be viewed here.

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