ATTACK — A sudden attempt to get away from another rider.

BLOCKING — When a rider tries to get in the way of other riders, usually done as part

of a team strategy to slow down the main field when other team members are ahead in a breakaway.

BONK — Known as “hitting the wall” in marathon running, this is when a rider

completely runs out of energy.

BREAKAWAY — When a rider or group of riders is ahead of the main field. Also referred to as “off the front.”

BRIDGE THE GAP — When a rider or group of riders is attempting to reach a group

farther ahead.

CHASERS — Riders who are attempting to “bridge the gap” to catch the lead group.

CRITERIUM — A multi-lap event on a course usually a mile or less in length and of

medium total distance, usually 25-75 miles.

DERAILLEUR — The mechanism that moves the chain from one gear to another.

DIRECTEUR SPORTIF — Pronounced “director sporteef,” this is the manager of the team.

DOMESTIQUE — A rider who sacrifices any individual honors to the team leader who is in contention to win.

DRAFTING — Riding closely behind another rider, which creates a slipstream, or air pocket.  The lead rider expends up to 30 percent more energy than the following rider does.

DROP — To leave another rider or riders behind by attacking. Losing contact with the group in which they are riding will drop fatigued riders.

ECHELON — A line of riders taking orderly turns at the lead and staggered so that each rider will get maximum protection from the wind. Also called a “pace line.”

FEEDING — At some point during a long road race it is necessary for riders to replace expended energy. Riders are given a “musette,” a small cloth bag, containing food and water bottles. Riders grab the bag from the team support personnel, remove the contents and put them in the pockets of their jerseys to eat when convenient. They generally prefer high-energy foods that break down quickly.

FIELD — The main group of riders, also known as the “pack,” “peloton” or “bunch.”

FIELD SPRINT — The final sprint between a group of riders, not necessarily for first place.

FORCE THE PACE — When one rider goes harder than the pack to increase the tempo.

GAP — The distance between individual or groups.

HAMMERING — Very steady, strenuous pedaling. Also called “jamming.”

HANGING ON — Barely keeping contact at the back of the pack.

HOOK — When one rider, either on purpose or by accident, uses his rear wheel to hit the front wheel of the rider behind him/her.

JUMP — A sudden acceleration, often at the start of the sprint.

KICK — The final burst of speed in a sprint.

LEAD-OUT — An international and often sacrificial move where one rider begins

sprint to give a head start to another rider (usually a teammate) on his rear wheel,who then comes around at an even faster speed to take the lead.

NEO-PRO — Cycling’s term for a rookie at the professional level.

PACE LINE — See “Echelon.”PACK — See “Field.”

PELOTON — See “Field.”

PRIME — Pronounced “preem.” A race-within-a-race where riders sprint for prizes on designated lap or at a certain point in a race, i.e., the “sponsor” Teamwork Challenge.

PULL — To take a turn at the front and break the wind for the other riders in the pack.

PULL OFF — To move to one side so that another rider can take a turn at the front.

PULL THROUGH — Move to the front of a pace line from second spot, after the lead riders swings off to the front.

SITTING IN — When one rider refuses to take a pull and break the wind for the groupin which he/she is riding. A derogatory term is “Wheel Sucker.

SLIPSTREAM — The pocket of air created by a moving rider, just as in automobile or motorcycle racing. See “Drafting.”

SOIGNEUR — Pronounced “swa-neur.” Comparable to a trainer in other sports, this persongives massages and watches the physical health of the riders along with the team doctors.

SPRINT — A sudden burst of speed for the finish of a race involving more than one rider. Also a 1,000-meter event on a bicycle track called a “Velodrome.

STAGE RACE — A series of individual races — time trials, road races, circuit races or criteriums — grouped into one event that lasts several days. The rider who has the lowest accumulated time for all stages determines the winner. The most famous stagerace in the world is the Tour de France, which spans 2,500 miles in 21 or 22 days.

TAKE A FLYER — When one rider goes off the front of the pack, usually alone.

TIME TRIAL — An individual race against the clock, often called the “Race of Truth.

VELODROME — An oval-banked track, usually 333.33 meters in length. In general, track riders and road riders compete in separate kinds of events. The difference in training and ability is similar to the difference between sprinters and long-distance runners.

WHEEL SUCKER — A derogatory term, referring to a rider who always sits in and never expends any energy by taking a pull at the front.