keirin

noun

1. (countable, uncountable)A form of track cycling originating in Japan, where riders must initially race behind a motorised pace-setter, the derny.

   “The keirin is one of the few track cycling events not originating in the West, having been developed in Japan. […] Keirin is extrememly popular in Japan, in particular because of gambling on the races.”

   “Japan, however, has developed the distinctive cycling subculture of Keirin racing. Launched in Japanese velodromes in 1948 as a state regulated system designed to cream-off a percentage of stake money to support Japan's newly reconstituted bicycle industry […]”