Time trials are like that for cycling. Drafting isn’t allowed. It’s just time.
Tactics are a big part of just about any race I can think of that’s aerobic. That’s pretty much everything in cycling and running events over (arguably) 200m. I find tactical races the most exciting to watch. Two or more strong runners can often push themselves harder than just one running against the clock.
They didn’t do it in the Olympics but in other meets I’ve seen 2 runners per lane in the 800m before the stagger unwinds.
But generally, what’s wrong with the way they currently race? Tripping isn’t all that common and it’s just a racing hazard.
The 800 is only run in lanes around the first turn then the runners cut in to lane 1.
I’m not claiming there are no issues, those are valid points.
My only dispute was with RealityChuck’s seeming contention that it’s a mathematical impossibility to have a single finish line and staggered start lines.
He appears to be claiming any staggering of start ends up with staggered finish, or if there was a single finish the runners would run different distances.
They should just do away with the races altogether and use treadmills.
Morgan Uceny would still find a way to trip over
Do you want to race against the other runners, or do you want to race against the clock?
For middle and long distances, the stagger would be so great that you would be racing against the clock.
What would NASCAR, INDY, marathon running, ski- and boarder-cross, Olympic BMX, or any other number of races be like if they were just races against a clock without head to head racing?
Also remember that every runner has the choice of running in front of, beside, or behind the pack, and thereby significantly reduce or eliminate the risk of being tripped. If a runner does not want to get boxed in and risk getting rear-ended, that runner has best keep clear of the pack. Of course suddenly and deliberately cutting off a runner is not allowed, but if a runner is passed, that runner must expect that the new leader will be moving to the inside, so the now trailing runner must take care to not rear-end the new leader. (That’s how Decker screwed up.)
Actually, it’s on the passing runner to ensure they have room to move in and will be considered the impeding runner in a collision.
That’s why I pointed out the deliberately cutting off is not allowed.
Way to completely ruin cycling.
There is a lot more to racing than just being the fastest. If all you want is time trials with no actual race, fair enough, but I don’t think you’ll find too many competitors. Remember that most sport organizing bodies that set the rules are composed of ex-athletes, so when you find a race rather than a time trial being held, it more often than not is a reflection of what athletes in that sport would prefer.
In addition to the fact that it’s a race and not a time trial, wouldn’t the effects of the unequal angle of each lane’s turns have a big impact on the race? The curve of the inside lane is short and steep while the outer lane is longer and flatter.
I was never able to get used to races on banked indoor short tracks. Every single step on the banks in the tight turns felt like I was about to trip. Adding that to running in the pack made these races utterly insane. Wonderful, exhilarating and tremendously challenging, but utterly insane.
They’d be F1? 
Nah, I saw with my own eyes an F1 pass another F1 during a race. It was in Monréal. In 1983. I wouldn’t be surprised if there may have been a few other occurances over the years.
Uceny inherited Suzy Favor-Hamilton’s karma. Tough break.
Uceny ran up on the person in front of her – an unfortunate but honest error.
Favor-Hamilton was a different story – she deliberately fell when she realized that she could not win. London 2012: Should athletes prepare for defeat? - BBC News