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Cycling Glossary

Attack. A sudden acceleration to move ahead of another rider or group of riders.
Bonk. Total exhaustion due to lack of sufficient food during a long race or ride.
Breakaway. One or more riders who sprint away from the peloton to build a lead. Competing riders in a breakaway will form uneasy alliances, working together and drafting to maintain/increase their lead. The alliances break down as they near the finish. A team leader in a breakaway with teammates has a clear advantage over a rider with no support.
Bridge. Rider(s) who sprint away and catch the breakaway.
Broom Wagon. The vehicle that picks up racers who abandon the race.
Caravan. Race official and team support vehicles. Each team has a car in the caravan that follows the peloton. Riders go back to their team car for food, clothing, or to speak to their director.
Col. A mountain pass or climb.
Commissaire. An official in competitive racing.
DNF. Short for "Did Not Finish."
Domestique. A rider whose job is to help the team leader win the day's stage or the race. A domestique may pull the leader up to a breakaway, or pace him up a steep climb. If a team leader gets a flat, a domestique may give up his front or rear wheel and wait for the team mechanic, saving the leader precious seconds.
Drafting. One or more riders ride single file behind another rider, taking advantage of that rider's slipstream. By doing so the rider behind has less headwind and gets a breather. In a crosswind, riders may ride in a diagonal line. Drafting is the lynchpin of most bicycle racing tactics. See also paceline.
Echappee. A rider who escapes from the pack. The 'escapee.'
Echelon. A staggered, long line of riders, each downwind of the rider ahead, allowing them to move much faster than a solo rider or small group of riders.
Equipe. A cycling team.
Feed Zone. A designated area along the route where riders can grab musette bags filled with food and drinks as they ride by.
Field Sprint. A mass sprint at the finish among riders in a road race.
Gap. The amount of time or distance between a rider or group of riders and another rider or group of riders.
General Classification (G.C.). The overall leader board in the race, representing each rider's total cumulative time in the race. The rider with the lowest time is number one.
Gruppetto. A group of riders that forms at the back of the field on mountain stages and ride at a pace that allows them to finish just inside the time limit (see Time Cut). Usually comprised of sprinters and others who are not climbing specialists or race leaders. Italian for "a small group."
Hammer. To ride hard. Also, to "put the hammer down."
Jump. A quick acceleration which usually develops into a sprint.
King of the Mountains (KOM). The KOM is the fastest climber in the overall standings. Look for the KOM jersey in the race.
Lacher. Drop out or let go.
Lead Out. Teammates form a paceline in front of the leader, pulling hard for the finish. The supporting riders pull off one at a time, leaving the leader rested for the last sprint. Leadouts typically happen right before the finish line or sprint.
Mechanical. Slang for a problem with the bicycle.
Mountain Climb Classifications. Mountain climbs are classified by their difficulty (length and incline). Category 4 is easiest, followed by 3, 2, 1, and the Hors-Categorie, which is hardest.
Neutral Section. When the first few miles of a road race are "neutral" (controlled by commissaires, no attacks allowed, moderate pace). It allows riders a warmup and is used by organizers to "parade" the race in a start city. The section ends at the "OK" point with a rolling start.
Off the Back. When a rider cannot keep pace and lags behind.
Off the Front. When a rider takes part in a breakaway.
Paceline. Two or more riders who are drafting. Racers take turns doing the hard work at the front of the line.
Peloton. The main group of racers. With riders maneuvering for position at breakneck speeds, the peloton can be quite a sight. Also called the pack.
Popped. Used to describe the legs losing all power.
Slipstream. The area of least wind resistance behind a rider.
Sprint. A quick scramble for the finish line, a mid-race KOM or other competition.
Stage Race. A race comprised of multiple one-day races, or stages. The Tour of California is a stage race.
Team Leader. The rider supported by the team so that he can win a stage or race.
Technical. A descent or portion of a race that is twisty, steep or otherwise challenging in terms of bike handling.
Time Cut. Riders must finish within a certain percentage of the winner's time to remain in the race.
Time Trial. Often called the Race of Truth, a time trial pits a rider or team against the clock. Individual time trials are grueling.
Train. A fast moving paceline of riders.
UCI. Union Cycliste Internationale, the international governing body of cycling.
USA Cycling. America's governing body of
cycling.
Velo. French for "bicycle."
Wheelsucker. A rider in a paceline who doesn't take a turn at the front.