Road bicycle racing in details

Road bicycle racing is an Olympic sport in which cyclists compete in speed racing on public roads.

General rules

There are some basic rules that are common for all races in this category, as well as some special rules concerned with a particular type of road bicycle racing. Let us start with the general rules.

Competitors who have been previously disqualified are not allowed to compete. An athlete may be disqualified from the race for violating the rules.

The results of the race should be announced by the judges in such a way that they can be understood by all participants.

If the course has obstacles, they are marked by special signs, or they are signaled by a special machine. If the race involves cycling through a tunnel, the lighting must be good enough. Cyclists must see the car at a distance of fifty meters. In addition, all obstacles are listed in a special guidebook and announced to team representatives before the race.

Medical assistance, in case of emergency, is provided by the tournament organization.

No glass objects should be used or kept by participants when they are cycling. If suddenly it is necessary to throw away any garbage, it should be done in a special way to the curb. You must not litter on the track.

The cyclist’s number must be placed on the front of the bicycle frame and on his jersey.

If, for any reason, the competitor has withdrawn from the race and will not continue, he or she must give the “end” sign to the judge or to the accompanying car. In this case, they have no right to cross the finish line. If the reason for quitting is not an injury or indisposition, they may travel to the finish line in a special bus.

There may be other vehicles on the track, but their height must not exceed 1.66 meters. The vehicles must not be darkened so that the road can be seen through them perfectly. They must comply with the rules of the road.

During the race, athletes may be accompanied by special vans. People who accompany them must have special participant cards.

Types of road cycling races

The rules of road bicycle racing vary according to the type of the race: individual, group or criterium.

In individual cycling the start is separate. Its order is determined by the current ranking of the participant. The strongest cyclists start at the end. The time interval between starts of the cyclists is 3 minutes. The main task is to show the best time passing the distance.

In a group race on the highway, the total number of athletes must not exceed 200 people. Each team must provide from 4 to 9 participants, depending on the decision of the organizers of the race. This number must be the same for all teams. Racers start simultaneously, trying to overcome the distance as quickly as possible, using certain tactics.

In Criterium, the race is conducted by a group of athletes on the streets of the city in a circle (this is why it can be described as a “circular race”). The length of one circle varies from one to three kilometers, the number of such circles can be up to fifty. The length of the lap and the number of laps in the race can vary greatly depending on the decision of the race organizing committee.

Bicycle

Road race bicycles are among the most expensive. Custom bikes are made for professional racers, on which athletes can perform in just a few races. Are there any requirements for such bicycles? Of course, there are!

• The frame can be made of aluminum alloy or carbon. The most common material is carbon fiber.
• The frame must have not only low weight, but also good aerodynamic properties. The cables are wired internally.
• Wheels on slick tires provide excellent maneuverability and minimal drag. Rims can be aerodynamic with a high rim. Wheels with aero profile are used more often on sectioning than on long group stages.
• Transmission with a high ratio is especially important for bikes for individual races.
• Tall handlebar allows the rider to “lie down” closer to the frame, which makes it easier to develop high speed, as well as to reduce air resistance.
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• The most suitable brakes are mechanical pincer-type rim ones. Hydraulic disc brakes are more effective, but they weigh too much for a road bike. However, even conventional pincer brakes are enough to effectively control a lightweight bike on a smooth road.

In general, the main task of engineers who construct road bikes is to minimize their weight. It is true that the international cycling community has set a lower weight threshold of 6.8 kg.

The most advanced bikes that can be admitted to the Tour de France and weigh about 7 kg, and the weight of the frame can be less than 900 grams.

Clothes

The standard outfit is a pair of leggings with “pampers”, for a more comfortable fit on the saddle, and a bodysuit with a zipper.

A helmet is mandatory for cyclists. Unlike triathlon, the use of aerodynamic helmets is prohibited in road racing. Bicycle shoes must made of lightweight materials.

It is not uncommon for athletes to have to dress in additional clothing and undress in the course of the race. For example, stages of some grand tours may be held in mountain passes, where there may be a strong difference in temperature.

Athletes leading in certain races or stages may be given T-shirts, or jerseys, of different colors. For example, at the various multi-day events there are the following jerseys:

• General classification leader’s jersey;
• The jersey of the best sprinter;
• The jersey of the king of the mountains;
• The jersey of the best young racer;
• World champion jersey;
• National champion jersey.

Competitions

Cycling distinguishes between Olympic, World and general competitions. The Olympic Games, one of the most prestigious road cycling championships, are held once every four years. World Road Cycling Championships is the annual world championship held under the wings of the International Cycling Union (UCI). National road cycling championships are annual competitions held in each state (which has a cycling federation).

The most prestigious road bicycle races are the multi-day ones, ranging from 5-7 days to 21-day super-multiday races such as the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a España.

However, there are also the so-called monumental bicycle races. This list includes the most prestigious and old one-day races, such as Milano-Sanremo, Ronde van Vlaanderen, Paris-Roubaix, Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the Giro di Lombardia.

Origins

The first ever bicycle race was held on May 31, 1868, near Paris. This date is considered the beginning of the history of not only road cycling, but of cycling in general.

One year later the competition took place on the route Paris – Rouen with the length of 122 kilometers. At the start were 400 athletes, and only 32 of them finished the race. The winner of the race James Moore went down in cycling history.

In subsequent years almost all the competitions were held only on the highway. By 1896, the I Summer Olympic Games were held, which included cycling. The competition included five track races and only one road race.

The history of the most popular event, the Tour de France, is also interesting.

By the end of the 19th century, multi-day races began to be held where participants could stay in hotels and stay overnight on their own. In 1895, the Frenchman Jouairot completed a tour of his native country in 18 days.

This event prompted another French rider, Henri Degrange, to come up with the idea of holding multi-day events in France. Now the Tour de France is the most popular cycling event in the world.

Currently, road bicycle racing is regulated by the International Cycling Union (Union Cycliste Internationale) and the European Cycling Union (L’Union Européenne de Cyclisme). This sport is very popular and is practiced almost in every country.