ABANDON - When a rider quits during a race.

AERODYNAMIC - A design of cycling equipment or a riding position that reduces wind resistance.

ATTACK - An aggressive, high-speed move away from other riders also known as a ‘breakaway’. Usually this is done with the intention of getting away from the bunch or peleton.

BIDON - The French word for 'water bottle'. Bidons are held in special holders attached to the bike frame.

BLOCKING - This is a legal move to impede the progress of opposing riders to allow teammates a better opportunity for success.

BLOW UP - To suddenly be unable to continue at race pace. It can happen very suddenly and result in the rider losing considerable to the main field of riders. Exhaustion or lack of food are common causes.

BPM - An abbreviation for beats per minute in reference to a rider’s heart rate.

BREAKAWAY - A rider or group of riders that has moved ahead of the bunch.

BRIDGE - To catch a rider or group that has opened a lead. Often appears as the phrase to ‘bridge the gap’.

BUNCH - This is the English language word used to describe the main field of riders during the race – often described by the French word peloton.

BUNCH SPRINT - This is where a large group of riders finish the race at the same time resulting in a massed sprint for the finish line. A bunch sprint can be very spectacular - and dangerous.

CADENCE - The number of times during one minute that a pedal stroke is completed.

CHAMOIS (sounds like 'shammy') - A soft piece of leathery material that is sewn into the crotch of a cyclist’s shorts or knicks. The chamois helps prevent chafing.

CHASING - this is what happens when a rider or group of riders endeavours to chase cyclists who are ahead of them on the road. It can apply when a rider has dropped behind and is attempting to rejoin the main field or when the main bunch is chasing breakaway riders.

CIRCUIT - This is a course that is ridden two or more times to comprise the race.

CLEAT - the metal or plastic fitting on the sole of a cycling shoe that clips into the pedal.

CLOSING THE GAP - This is where the bunch gains on the leading rider or riders.

CRITERIUM - A road race covering multiple laps of a short circuit, that is on average between one to two kilometres in length.

DOMESTIQUE - A French word describing riders who are the workhorses of the team. These cyclists have the job of doing anything possible to help their team leader perform well. This can even mean sacrificing your own wheel if your team leader has a puncture.

DRAFTING - Riding closely behind another rider to take advantage of the slipstream to use less energy.

DROPPED - A rider who falls behind the bunch or a smaller group of riders is said to be dropped.

ECHELON - The formation of an echelon is a key tactic in cycle racing and is done to minimise the effect of wind resistance. Cyclists ride close behind each other to benefit from the slipstream of the rider in front. If there is a headwind they will ride directly behind the cyclist in front but when the wind blows at an angle cyclists will place themselves bhind and to the side of the rider in front, so they receive the maximum shelter from the wind. This formation is known as an echelon.

END OVER - Crashing over the bike’s handle bars.

ERGOMETER - A stationary, bicycle-like device with adjustable pedal resistance used for indoor training.

FEED ZONE - A designated area on a race course where riders are handed food and drinks.

FIELD SPRINT - This is the dash for the finish line by the main group of riders.

FULL TUCK - The crouched position by a rider used for maximum speed on descents.

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION - This is the term for the overall standings in a stage race and is often referred to as the GC.

HUNGER FLAT - When you are 'hunger flat' you lose your energy, feel weak, nauseous, achy and generally awful, all caused by a lack of food.

INTERVALS - This is a structured method of training that alternates brief, hard efforts with short periods of easier riding.

JERSEY - This is the name for the tight, stretchy fabric tops worn by cyclists. The leader of the Tour de France famously wears a yellow jersey. The winner of the world championship is awarded the rainbow jersey.

KNICKS - These are the tight, lycra shorts worn by cyclists.

LANTERNE ROUGE - This is the name given to the rider who finishes last in the race and is the French word for 'red lantern'.

LEADER'S JERSEY - The overall leader of a stage race is designated by a special coloured jersey. Yellow for the Tour de France, pink for the Tour of Italy.

LEAD-OUT - This is the tactic when cyclists ride fast in front of a team mate who sits in close behind to gain the advantage of the slipstream. The front rider, usually a domestique, will ride as fast as possible toward the finish line with the other rider (usually the team leader or team sprinter) right behind. Just before the line the front rider will pull off to the side allowing the rider behind to race through to the finish.

MASSED START - Cycling events such as road races and criteriums in which all competitors leave the start line at the same time.

MOTOR PACE - To ride behind a motorcycle or other vehicle that breaks the wind.

OFF THE BACK - See the definition of 'Dropped'.

ON A WHEEL - The term used to describe the position of a cyclist following close behind another to benefit from the slipstream.

OVERALL LEADER - the rider who is in the overall lead of a stage race.

PACELINE - A group formation in which each rider takes a turn at the front before pulling off, dropping to the rear position, and sheltering in the slipstream of the riders ahead. The riders rotate through so they share the pace making. Similar to an echelon.

PELOTON - The French word for bunch, the main group of riders in a race.

PRIME (pronounced ‘preem’) - A special award given to the leader on selected laps during a criterium, or the first rider to reach a certain landmark in a road race. Prime’s are offered to create additional excitement in the race.

RAINBOW JERSEY - the jersey awarded to the winner of a world championship. The rainbow jersey is white with five coloured bands; blue, red, black, yellow and green. Only a reigning world champion is allowed to race in this jersey

ROAD RACE - A mass start race staged on the road that goes from point to point, covers one large loop or is held on a circuit longer than those used for criteriums.

ROAD RASH - Any skin abrasion resulting from a fall. This can also be referred to as crash rash.

SHAVED LEGS - Shaved legs reduce wind resistance (even if only to a tiny degree), make for more comfortable massages and allow for quicker healing of road rash in the event of a crash.

SIGN ON - Before the start of a race all competitors must sign their name on a sign-on board or sheet.

SITTING ON or SITTING ON A WHEEL - As seen in an echelon cyclists ride close behind each other to benefit from the slipstream of the rider in front. The close positioning of a rider behind another is referred to as ‘sitting on’.

SLIPSTREAM - This is the pocket of calmer air behind a moving rider.

SOIGNEUR - These are team staff members whose job is a combination of masseur, medic and general aid to the cyclists. They are an integral part of the support team.

STAGE - Cycling races/tours that are held over a number of days are broken down into stages. Each day a different stage will be held, but all stages add up to create the overall tour. Results from each stage are cumulative and determine the overall winner on the last day.

TEAM CAR - This car follows the riders throughout the race and contains the team director, coach and mechanic. It also carries spare bikes and wheels, food, drink and medical supplies.

TEAM DIRECTOR/DIRECTEUR SPORTIF - This is the head of the team; the person who manages the racing tactics of the team and decides what will happen during each race.

TEAM LEADER – Teams are typically made of the worker riders, domestiques, and one or more team leaders. The team leader is the cyclist who has been chosen to try to win the race, usually determined by previous performances.

UCI - The UCI is an abbreviation for the Union Cycliste Internationale, the world governing body of cycling, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.