The sport of cycling has its own language.
Attack: When a rider attempts to pick up the pace of the field by sprinting from the front. If an attack is successful it can lead to a breakaway and possibly a victory.Blocking: When riders try to slow the pace of the pack when one or more of their teammates is out in a breakaway.
Breakaway: A rider or group of riders is able to come up from the main field of riders during the course of a race.
"Bridging the gap": When a rider or group of riders is able to come up from the main field of riders to catch a breakaway.
Chase group: A group of riders ahead of the main field trying to catch a breakaway. If a chase group is to be successful, all of the riders in the group need to be willing to work together. If a rider refuses to take his turn in the front when a part of the chase group, he will effect the whole group. Often if a teammate of a breakaway rider is in a chase group, he will work against the group to help his teammate to retain his lead.
Domestique: A French term used to describe the "work horses" of a team. These riders sacrifice personal performance to help a designated teammate, usually called the "team leader." A team leader is someone like Greg LeMond who has proven himself time and time again to be one of the top competitors in the sport. If that team leader has any type of crash or mechanical failure it is the domestique's job to help the team leader catch up to the main field of riders. This is to make sure that the team leader is not forced to waste unnecessary energy. This becomes more and more crucial as a stage race like the Tour DuPont wears on. The team leader also cannot afford to lose too much on a breakaway. It is important for domestiques to help in chase groups to allow the team leader to "bridge the gap" to a breakaway. The domestique also helps in team strategies like blocking if the team leader is involved in a breakaway. Why sacrifice? More money for the winner means more for the team, and not all riders have the ability to win the race.
Drafting: When one cyclist allows another cyclist to set the pace and rides within six inches of the lead rider's rear wheel to cut down wind resistance (30%). It is easier to maintain speed when riding within the slipstream of moving air created by the rider in front. It is also very important that the lead rider "holds his line" (maintains a straight path) for effective drafting and safety at high speeds.
Echelon: A staggered line of riders, each downwind of the rider immediately ahead, for more effective drafting.
Feeding: In long road races it is important for cyclists to maintain a constant intake of food ( they burn 10,000 calories a day in a race like the Tour DuPont) and water to keep their bodies performing at maximum capacity. At feeding stations, cyclists pick up necessary food and drink from their team support crews. Feedings usually come in a bag that can be slung over one shoulder so the food can be easily consumed while riding. There are designated feed zones during races where riders pick up food and drink.
Field Sprint: A sprint to the finish among the main group of riders.
Flyer: A surprise attack, usually done alone.
General Classification: Abbreviated, gen. class or G. C. Describes all races combined in a stage event, like the Tour DuPont. The winner of this stage event is the rider who has the lowest accumulated time for all the stages of the race.
"Hitting the wall" (or "bonking"): When an athlete's muscles quit on him, usually from working too hard in a race without maintaining a proper intake of food and drink. You can see the pain of this effect in the faces of riders struggling to keep going, especially in the toughest portions of the race course, like on mountainous climbs. Problems in the mountains can also result from severe oxygen debt in riders not used to riding at such high altitudes.
"Lead-out": When one rider helps a teammate get in a better position for a sprint by attacking before the last 200 meters of the race with the teammate drafting right on his wheel. This helps the stronger sprinter pick up speed faster and make a stronger sprint in the last 200 meters when they jump out of the slipstream and dash for the line. A lead-out often surprises other riders in the pack, allowing the sprinter to sneak around the outside of the pack and be in a better position for the final sprint. Other top sprinters are often forced to react to this kind of surprise attack on their own, without the help of a teammate.
Pace Line: A string of riders who alternately ride at the front and sit in for effective drafting in groups.
Peloton: The entire field of riders.
Prime: A sprint within a race for points or cash prizes, usually given in a criterium or circuit race. (Pronounced preem.)
Administrative Terms
Caravan: All the vehicles accompanying the field of riders. Those vehicles include: support and technical cars/vans; motorcycles for still and video photographers; media viewing vans; police escorts; motorcycle marshals' pace and referee cars. There are over 60 caravan vehicles.Commissaire: The chief referee of the race, who is assisted by several field judges. Two commissaire vehicles precede the cyclists.
Command vehicle: The link between the race communications network and the state police, to maintain proper alignment of the caravan for the maximum safety of the riders and support vehicles.
Course marshal: A race administrator that helps police traffic and maintain the safety of riders and spectators. Tour DuPont course marshals may serve in four different posts along the course on a given race day.
Working Envelope: The area closed by state and local police in which the race can proceed from one road to the other. For road races, roads must be closed before and after as the riders go through counties.
Motor marshal: A motorcycle escort that works with the police and course marshals to ensure the safety of riders and other members of the race caravan. The duties of a motor marshal include traffic control, assuring road closures and monitoring road hazards which can range from pot holes to farm animals.
Support Crew: Vehicles accompanying riders that follow the riders, giving aid in the form of food, drink and mechanical assistance, and, in the realm of the team managers (or "director sportifs"), strategy and coaching.
Technical support: Any mechanical assistance by team or neutral support crews, ranging from spare wheels to replace flat tires to an entirely new bike if other important parts are damaged in a crash. These equipment changes need to be made as quickly as possible so the rider can get back into the race. There are no time handicaps for mechanical failure.
Volunteer marshal: Assists a course marshal, mainly in the area of crowd control, to maintain the safety of riders and spectators. These marshals direct the riders which way to go on a given road. They are found at most intersections and route turns along the course. There are approximately 100 marshals used per day.