The peloton of the Tour de France

Bicycle racing encompasses many forms in which bicycles are used for competition. Bicycle racing includes road bicycle racing, cyclo-cross, mountain bike racing, track cycling, BMX racing and bike trials and cycle speedway. Bicycle Race is a hit single for the English rock band Queen. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2143x1709, 2833 KB) The Peloton of the Tour de France, 9th of July 2005 at the begin of the ascend to Cote de Bad Herrenalb. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2143x1709, 2833 KB) The Peloton of the Tour de France, 9th of July 2005 at the begin of the ascend to Cote de Bad Herrenalb. ... The peloton (from French, literally meaning ball and related to the English word platoon), bunch or pack is the large main group in a road bicycle race. ... The Tour de France is the worlds best-known cycling race, a 22 day long, 20 stage road race that is usually run over a distance of more than 3000km. ... For other uses, see Bicycle (disambiguation). ... A race is a competition of speed. ... Road bicycle racing is a popular bicycle racing sport held on roads (following the geography of the area), using racing bicycles. ... A cyclo-cross racer carrying his bicycle up a steep slope after overcoming a barrier at the bottom (not shown). ... A rider during a Cross Country race The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) recognised the sport of mountain bike racing relatively late in 1990, when it sanctioned the world championships in Purgatory, Colorado. ... Track cycling is a bicycle racing sport usually held on specially-built banked tracks or velodromes (but many events are held at older velodromes where the track banking is relatively shallow) using track bicycles. ... It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles. ... Bike trials is a is a form of offroad cycling derived from motorcycle trials where one slowly negotiates man-made and natural obstacles. ... Cycle speedway is a form of bicycle racing which takes place on short oval outdoor dirt tracks, typically around 70-90 metres in length. ...

History

Main article: History of cycling

The first bicycle race is popularly held to be a 1,200 metre race held on 1868-05-31 at the Parc de Saint-Cloud, Paris. It was won by expatriate Englishman Dr. James Moore who rode a bicycle with solid rubber tires.^[1] The first bicycle race is popularly was a 1,200 metre race held on May 31, 1868 at the Parc de Saint-Cloud, Paris. ... Year 1868 (MDCCCLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a leap year starting on Monday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... is the 151st day of the year (152nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Saint Cloud or St. ... It has been suggested that List of visitor attractions in Paris be merged into this article or section. ... James Moore (right) and the second, Jean-Eugène-André Castera at Paris-Rouen at 1869-11-07 James Moore (born 14 January 1849, died 17 July 1935) was a bicycle racer. ... This article is about pneumatic tires. ...

Types of races

Road bicycle racing is the most popular type of bicycle racing^{[citation needed]}. Racing typically takes place from spring through to fall, many riders spend the winter in countries in Cycliste Internationale|Pro tour]] races range from the multi-day "Grand Tour" stage races such as the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a España to single day "Classics" such as the Tour of Flanders and Milan-San Remo. Criteriums are races based on circuits typically less than 1 mile in length and run for a set time (60min, 90min, etc) rather than a specific distance. Criteriums are the most popular form of road racing in North America. In Belgium Kermesses are particularly popular, a single day event usually 120+km in length. As well as road races in which all riders start simultaneously, individual time trial and team time trial events are also held on road-based courses. Road bicycle racing is a popular bicycle racing sport held on roads (following the geography of the area), using racing bicycles. ... In road bicycle racing, a Grand Tour refers to one of the three major European professional cycling stage races: Tour de France - Tour of France Giro dItalia - Tour of Italy Vuelta a España - Tour of Spain Collectively they are termed the Grand Tours, and all three are similar... The Tour de France is the worlds best-known cycling race, a 22 day long, 20 stage road race that is usually run over a distance of more than 3000km. ... The Giro dItalia, also simply known as the Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May or early June in and around Italy. ... The Vuelta a España bicycle race is one of the three Grand Tours of Europe. ... The Tour of Flanders (Dutch: Ronde van Vlaanderen) is a road cycling race held in Flanders, Belgium. ... Milan - San Remo, nicknamed la primavera, is an annual cycling race between Milan and San Remo. ... A criterium, or crit, is a type of bike race held on a short course (usually less than 5 km), often run on closed-off city centre streets. ... An Individual Time Trial (ITT) is a road bicycle race in which cyclists race alone against the clock (in French: contre la montre - literally against the watch). There are also track-based time trials where riders compete in velodromes, and team time trials (TTT). ... A Team Time Trial (TTT) is a road-based bicycle race in which teams of cyclists race against the clock (see individual time trial for a more detailed description of ITT events). ...

Cyclo-cross originated as a sport for road racers during the off season, as a way to vary their training during the cold months. Races typically take place in the autumn and winter (the international or "World Cup" season is September-January), and consists of many laps of a short (2–3 km or 1–2 mile) course featuring pavement, wooded trails, grass, steep hills and obstacles requiring the rider to quickly dismount, carry the bike whilst navigating the obstruction and remount in one graceful motion. Races for senior categories are generally between 30 minutes and an hour long, with the distance varying depending on the ground conditions. The sport is strongest in the traditional road cycling countries such as Belgium (and Flanders in particular) and France . A cyclo-cross racer carrying his bicycle up a steep slope after overcoming a barrier at the bottom (not shown). ...

Mountain bike racing is relatively new to the bicycle racing scene. It was very popular during the 1990s. Mountain bike races are entirely off-road, and usually involve a moderate degree of technical riding. There are several varieties of mountain bike racing; the main categories are cross-country and downhill but also 4X or four cross racing. For mountain bike racing and riding you should have wide knobby tires with a deep tread. A rider during a Cross Country race The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) recognised the sport of mountain bike racing relatively late in 1990, when it sanctioned the world championships in Purgatory, Colorado. ... A rider during a Cross Country race The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) recognised the sport of mountain bike racing relatively late in 1990, when it sanctioned the world championships in Purgatory, Colorado. ... The tone or style of this article or section may not be appropriate for Wikipedia. ...

Track cycling encompasses a variety of races that take place on banked tracks or velodromes. Events are quite diverse and can range from individual and team pursuits, one on one sprints, to various group and mass start races. Competitors use track bicycles which do not have brakes and also do not have freewheels. Track cycling is a bicycle racing sport usually held on specially-built banked tracks or velodromes (but many events are held at older velodromes where the track banking is relatively shallow) using track bicycles. ... Bicycle racing on a velodrome A velodrome is a sporting arena purpose-built for track cycling, ie: racing on bicycles. ... A track bicycle A track bicycle is a type of fixed-gear bicycle specially designed for track cycling in a velodrome. ...

BMX racing takes place off-road. BMX races are sprint races on purpose-built off-road single-lap racetracks on typically single speed bicycles. Riders navigate a dirt course made up of various jumps, along with banked and flat corners. It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles. ...

Bike trials is a sport where riders navigate natural and man-made obstacles without putting down their foot, or "dabbing". It is similar to motorcycle trials. Points are awarded for bike handling skills, and as such there are similarities with BMX racing. Bike trials is a is a form of offroad cycling derived from motorcycle trials where one slowly negotiates man-made and natural obstacles. ... A motorcycle trial (also referred to as observed trials) is a non speed event on specialist motorcycles. ...

Cycle speedway is a form of bicycle racing that takes place on short outdoor dirt tracks, around 70-90 meters in length. Cycle speedway is a form of bicycle racing which takes place on short oval outdoor dirt tracks, typically around 70-90 metres in length. ...

In Europe bicycle racing expresses nation prestige: German Democratic Republic postage stamp, 1960

All of the above bicycle races involve diamond frame bicycles that basically consist of two triangles. An alternative form of bicycle is the recumbent. The recumbent is a bicycle on which the rider sits back in a full seat with the legs in a horizontal position. This puts the body in a position where there is less wind drag from the legs. Proponents of the recumbent claim that it provides a more comfortable riding position with no weight on the wrists. The recumbent is a more aerodynamic design of bicycle, and current world speed records were set with recumbent bicycles. Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... “East Germany” redirects here. ... Tandem recumbent bicycle manufactured by BikeE A recumbent bicycle is a variety of bicycle which places the rider in a seated or supine position (rarely, in a prone position). ...

Bicycle races are popular all over the world, especially in Europe. The most competitive and devoted countries are generally thought to be Italy, Spain, Belgium, Germany, France, the Netherlands and Switzerland, although the United States also has a high international standing, as does Australia. The USA boasts three-time Tour de France and first American winner, Greg LeMond as well as seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, and Australia has seen success through the likes of Michael Rogers (World Road Time Trial Champion, 2003, 2004, and 2005) and Robbie McEwen (2002, 2004 and 2006 Green Jersey (sprinters jersey) winner in the Tour de France) and Stuart O'Grady who won the prestigious Paris-Roubaix in 2007. For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... The Tour de France is the worlds best-known cycling race, a 22 day long, 20 stage road race that is usually run over a distance of more than 3000km. ... Gregory James Greg LeMond (born June 26, 1961 in Lakewood, California) is a former professional road bicycle racer from the United States and a three time winner of the Tour de France. ... The Tour de France is the worlds best-known cycling race, a 22 day long, 20 stage road race that is usually run over a distance of more than 3000km. ... Lance Armstrong (born Lance Edward Gunderson on September 18, 1971) is a retired American professional road racing cyclist. ... This article is about the cyclist Michael Rogers, for the American congressmen called Mike Rogers, see: Mike Rogers Michael Rogers, often called Mick Rogers or Dodger, (born 1979) is an Australian cycle racer. ... For the womens event, see UCI Road World Championships, Women. ... Robbie McEwen (born June 24, 1972, Brisbane, Queensland) is an Australian professional road bicycle racer, specializing in fast sprint finishes. ... The maillot vert (French for green jersey) is the jersey or t-shirt worn by the leader of the Tour de Frances points classification. ... Stuart OGrady is an Australian cyclist, born on 6 August 1973 in Adelaide, South Australia. ... Begun in 1896, Paris-Roubaix, third of the ten UCI World Cup races, has become the most famous single-day bicycle road race. ...

References

1. ^ Maso, B. (tr. Horn, M.) (2005), The Sweat of the Gods, Mousehold Press, pp. 1-2, ISBN 1-874739-37-4