UPDATE: Sarah Hammer to Begin Her Individual Race

8/6 UPDATE 11:24 a.m.: Temecula resident Sarah Hammer was tied for the lead with Tara Whitten of Canada through two events today in the women's omnium cycling event at the London Olympics.

Hammer and Whitten both have 10 points. In each event, the winner receives one point, the second-place rider two points and so on. The rider with the lowest total score is the winner.

Hammer was fifth in the flying lap 250-meter time trial in 14.369 seconds, while Whitten was seventh in 14.516. Laura Trott of Great Britain won in 14.057.

Hammer was also fifth in the 20-kilometer points race with 25 points, while Whitten was third with 28 points. Malgorzata Wojtyra of Poland won with 34 points. Riders score points for sprints that occur every 10 laps around the 250-meter track and for lapping the field.

The first day of the event at the Velodrome at London's Olympic Park will end with an elimination race, a bunch race with an intermediate sprint every two laps with the last rider each time eliminated.

The omnium will conclude Tuesday with the 3,000-meter individual pursuit which will begin at 2:19 a.m.; a 10-kilometer scratch race at 8:07 a.m.; and a 500-meter time trial at 8:53 a.m.

All portions of the omnium will be shown live on NBCOlympics.com.

In the individual pursuit, two riders start at opposite sides of the track and race against the clock; in the scratch race, the winner is the first to cross the finish line; and each rider will seek the fastest time in the time trial.

"Obviously the individual pursuit is one of my favorites as it was my bread and butter, but they are all unique," the 29-year-old Hammer said. "Anything can happen in the mass start events which is what makes it so exciting for the spectators and a little more nerve-wracking for the competitors."

Hammer, who graduated from Chaparral High School in 2000, won a silver medal in the omnium in the 2011 UCI Track World Championships and won the event at the 2012 London Olympic Test Event.

Hammer retired from cycling in 2003, but was inspired to return to the sport after watching the 2004 Olympics on television.

Hammer was part of the four-member U.S. team that won the silver medal in the team pursuit Saturday. She was fifth in the 2008 Olympics in the individual pursuit race, which was not included in the 2012 program, and failed to finish the points race.

8/6 ORIGINAL POST: Temecula resident Sarah Hammer is scheduled to begin competing in the initial women's Olympics omnium cycling event Monday, two days after helping the U.S to a silver medal in the team pursuit.

"The best way to describe the omnium is six events over two days with
everything from a 14-second effort to a 25-minute points race," Hammer said

"It includes everything there is on the track from sprint to endurance to tactical handling skills, time trailing, everything," she said.

The omnium competitors will take to the track at the Velodrome at
London's Olympic Park for a flying lap 250-meter time trial beginning at 8:08
a.m. Pacific Daylight Time.

The 20-kilometer points race begins at 9:06 a.m. and the elimination race starts at 10:18 a.m.

The flying lap is a race against the clock; in the 20-kilometer points
race, riders score points for sprints that occur every 10 laps around the 250-
meter track and for lapping the field; and the elimination race is a bunch race
with an intermediate sprint every two laps with the last rider each time
eliminated.

On Tuesday, the 3,000-meter individual pursuit will begin at 2:19 a.m.;
a 10-kilometer scratch race at 8:07 a.m.; and a 500-meter time trial at 8:53
a.m.

All portions of the omnium will be shown live on NBCOlympics.com.

NBC will air coverage on a delayed basis from 1:10-1:30 p.m. Monday and 12:35-1:35 a.m. Tuesday.

In the individual pursuit, two riders start at opposite sides of the
track and race against the clock; in the scratch race, the winner is the first
to cross the finish line; and each rider will seek the fastest time in the time
trial.

In each event, the winner receives one point, the second-place rider two
points and so on. The rider with the lowest total score is the winner.

"Obviously the individual pursuit is one of my favorites as it was my bread
and butter, but they are all unique,'' Hammer said.

"Anything can happen in the mass start events which is what makes it so exciting for the spectators and a little more nerve-wracking for the competitors.'"

Hammer, who graduated from Chaparral High School in 2000, won a silver
medal in the omnium in the 2011 UCI Track World Championships and won the event at the 2012 London Olympic Test Event.

Hammer retired from cycling in 2003, but was inspired to return to the
sport after watching the 2004 Olympics on television.

Hammer was fifth in the 2008 Olympics in the individual pursuit race,
which was not included in the 2012 program, and failed to finish the points
race.