Teams comprise five riders including a non-programmed reserve. Team A is numbered 1 to 5, Team B is numbered 6 to 10, Team C is numbered 11 to 15, whilst Team D is numbered 16 to 20. The reserves take Nos. 5, 10, 15 and 20, and there are no restrictions on who may ride in these positions unless competition rules state otherwise.
The heat format is determined as follows:
| Heat | Red | Blue | White | Y/B |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1: | 3 | 4 | 16 | 17 |
| 2: | 6 | 7 | 13 | 14 |
| 3: | 11 | 12 | 18 | 19 |
| 4: | 8 | 9 | 1 | 2 |
| 5: | 3 | 4 | 11 | 12 |
| 6: | 16 | 17 | 8 | 9 |
| 7: | 18 | 19 | 6 | 7 |
| 8: | 1 | 2 | 13 | 14 |
| 9: | 6 | 7 | 3 | 4 |
| 10: | 13 | 14 | 16 | 17 |
| 11: | 1 | 2 | 18 | 19 |
| 12: | 8 | 9 | 11 | 12 |
| 13: | 1 | 2 | 6 | 7 |
| 14: | 16 | 17 | 11 | 12 |
| 15: | 13 | 14 | 3 | 4 |
| 16: | 8 | 9 | 18 | 19 |
| 17: | 16 | 17 | 1 | 2 |
| 18: | 11 | 12 | 6 | 7 |
| 19: | 3 | 4 | 8 | 9 |
| 20: | 18 | 19 | 13 | 14 |
| 21: | 11 | 12 | 1 | 2 |
| 22: | 6 | 7 | 16 | 17 |
| 23: | 18 | 19 | 3 | 4 |
| 24: | 13 | 14 | 8 | 9 |
Riders wearing the red and blue helmet colours take Gates A and C, whilst riders wearing the white and yellow/black helmet colours take Gates B and D. Team members may decide amongst themselves which gate positions they will take in their heats. Gate A is on the inside of the track, whilst Gate D is on the outside.
A reserve may have a maximum of six rides that can be taken at any time, plus an additional ride as a tactical substitute. All exclusions count towards the maximum number of rides.
No rider is required to take a minimum number of rides.
After Heat 10, a team behind the leading team by six or more points at the end of each even-numbered heat, may substitute a programmed rider in their next heat with any other rider in the team. Each rider however, may only be used as a tactical substitute once, and only one substitution per heat is allowed.
Race points scored over all heats are used to determine the final placings. Where two or more teams are tied for a place, each team nominates a rider for a runoff.