13 Cycling Terms that You Need to Know

What remained of the peloton grinds its way in towards the finish, mostly having been working for guys further up the ranking for most of the day.
What remained of the peloton grinds its way in towards the finish, mostly having been working for guys further up the ranking for most of the day. | © Mike Knell / Flickr

A professional bike race is a nuanced bundle of tactics, pain and elite performance. Watch any race and you’ll be inundated with specialist terms in a variety of different languages to go along with it. Here’s what you need to know.

Bonk

When a rider fails mid-race due to utter and total exhaustion. Can also be referred to as blow up, fried, hit the wall, bollito, crisi, and many more.

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CentralAmerica

GORGEOUS GUATEMALA

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini
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An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

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CentralAmerica

BEACHY BELIZE

Beachy Belize

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A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
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CentralAmerica

COLONIAL MEXICO

Colonial Mexico

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An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
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Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic
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SouthAmerica

ANCIENT PERU

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic
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2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
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Europe

SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic
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1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

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EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture
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2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
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COMPLETE PORTUGAL BY TRAIN

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture
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3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
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Asia

SOULFUL SOUTH KOREA

Soulful South Korea

10 days . Epic
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THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic
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2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.
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SECRETS OF SRI LANKA BY TRAIN

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

10 days . Culture
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3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
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Africa

EPIC MOROCCO

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic
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1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

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ULTIMATE EGYPT

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic
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2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
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IMMERSIVE KENYA

Immersive Kenya

8 days . Epic
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3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.
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Peloton

The largest group of riders on the road, although it’s often talked about as its own separate entity and is still used away from the race. Despite the elbowing and barging that goes on within it, the peloton can also be a sanctuary if riders need a rest from the higher tempo at front of the race.

Soigneur

The person who looks after the team. They hand out food and drink at feed stations, sort clothing and kit, clean up the riders and do all manner of other odd jobs. In the past some have even been asked to help with doping if trusted enough, despite it being very much against the rules.

Breakaway

When one, or a few, riders break away from the peloton. Nine times out of ten they’re allowed to break because they will inevitably be caught by the end.

Thomas De Gendt breaks away at the Tour de Romandie.

Rouleur

A strong rider who does huge amounts of work throughout the day. Considered the engine room of a cycle team, they have tremendous amounts of sustained power given their big cadence, rather than aggressive sprinting. It’s not uncommon for a team’s rouleur to organise teammates while on the road and make tactical decisions.

Domestique

A term that translates as ‘servant’. These riders serve the team leader throughout the race, keeping them safe, delivering food and drinks, helping them up climbs, neutralising attacks, even swapping bikes if necessary. If their leader has a mechanical issue it’s their domestique that drops back to bring them back to the peloton.

Drop

If a rider accelerates sharply, leaving a rival unable to respond and keep up, then they have “dropped” them. A real power move.

Queen stage

The name given to the hardest stage in a race. Usually one with huge climbs, it is the most demanding, so often the most prestigious to win. This is also where the GC riders often like to make their move for the overall lead in Tours as the time gains over rivals can be crucial.

Lead out

The right hand man to a team’s leading sprinter. They help bring their teammate to the front of the field just before the final few hundred metres while their lead sprinters use their slipstream behind them, before catapulting themselves forward in a sprint for the finish. (seems to be a tactic rather than an individual?)

Flahute

A term for riders who endure the hardest and most painful parts of a bike race. Taps in to cycling’s masochistic tendencies and the constant urge to see who is the toughest.

GC

Stands for General Classification, and refers to the lowest cumulative time – how the overall winner of a stage race is measured. A team’s leader will normally be a GC rider aiming to win the race, or a sprinter targeting stage wins.

Lanterne rouge

Literally meaning ‘red lantern’, this is the title given to the person in a race who is in last position. It comes from the red lanterns hung on the back of old passenger trains which signalmen used to check where still connected correctly.

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