The sheer volume of terminology and jargon in the Tour can be quite overwhelming to the uninitiated. I thought that I'd put together a list of all the terms I am likely to use in my blog posts to help readers understand what I'm talking about when I sound surprised that the flamme rouge has attacked while passing under the lanterne rouge on an out of category (or hors categorie) climb.
So here's a list of terms that might come up in my blog posts (I'll update it if I use a term that I hadn't thought of while first posting this):
attack - A rapid acceleration of pace by a rider in a group, the aim of which is to create a gap between him and the group.
autobus - a large group of riders that forms behind the main group of riders. Usually it forms in the high mountains of the Tour and is comprised of those riders (mostly sprinters) who do not excel on the steep slopes. The goal of the autobus is to finish within the cut-off time and not be eliminated from the race.
breakaway - a rider or group of riders that has ridden away from the peloton in an attempt to take a stage win or gain time on their opponents or both.
caravan - the collection of team cars and official vehicles that follows behind the peloton.
chase - an individual or group of riders that is ahead of the peloton but behind the race leaders.
cracked - not a good thing. If a rider has cracked it means he's run out of energy and has fallen off the pace. The overall contenders aim to crack their opponents in the high mountains of the Tour to gain time on them.
domestique - a rider whose job it is to support other riders in his team, in particular his team leader. He does so by delivering water to the riders from the team car and having teammates ride in his slipstream.
dropped - to fall off the pace of the group and fall behind.
escape - another term to describe the race leaders; the breakaway.
flamme rouge - a red banner hung over the road, signaling 1 kilometre to go to the stage finish line.
general classification - the overall leader board for the Tour, calculated according to the total time each rider has taken in the race. The leader in the general classification wears the maillot jaune.
green jersey - a green jersey worn by the points leader in the race. Points are awarded at the end of each stage and at intermediate sprints.
hit the wall - to run out of energy; to crack.
hors categorie (out of category) - a climb that is incredibly difficult, literally 'beyond categorisation.' Climbs range from category 1 (hardest) to category 4 (easiest), out of category climbs are harder than category 1 climbs.
individual time trial - an individual race against the clock over a shorter stage. Riders start in timed intervals in reverse order of position in the general classification and no drafting is allowed along the route.
intermediate sprint - a point along the stage at which points can be earned for the green jersey classification.
king of the mountains - a points classification in the Tour in which points are awarded at the top of climbs. The polka-dot jersey is awarded to the leader of this classification. Harder climbs earn more points. This classification is won by the most consistent climber in the Tour.
lanterne rouge - the last placed rider in the general classification. The lanterne rouge is given great respect by the other riders for being last, but nevertheless fighting to stay in the race.
maillot jaune - the yellow jersey worn by the overall race leader.
main field - the main body of riders; the peloton.
peloton - the main body of riders.
polka-dot jersey - the white and red spotted jersey worn by the leader of the King of the Mountains classification.
prologue - a short individual time trial that usually precedes the first stage of the tour. It is used to determine who will wear the maillot jaune.
sit up - when a rider eases his effort.
team time trial - a team race against the clock. Riders set off in their teams and race over a shorter course. Team members are awarded the time of the 5th rider in the team to cross the line.
white jersey - the jersey worn by the highest placed young rider in the general classification. Young riders are aged 25 and under.
yellow jersey - the wearer of the yellow jersey is the overall leader of the race; the maillot jaune.
So here's a list of terms that might come up in my blog posts (I'll update it if I use a term that I hadn't thought of while first posting this):
attack - A rapid acceleration of pace by a rider in a group, the aim of which is to create a gap between him and the group.
autobus - a large group of riders that forms behind the main group of riders. Usually it forms in the high mountains of the Tour and is comprised of those riders (mostly sprinters) who do not excel on the steep slopes. The goal of the autobus is to finish within the cut-off time and not be eliminated from the race.
breakaway - a rider or group of riders that has ridden away from the peloton in an attempt to take a stage win or gain time on their opponents or both.
caravan - the collection of team cars and official vehicles that follows behind the peloton.
chase - an individual or group of riders that is ahead of the peloton but behind the race leaders.
cracked - not a good thing. If a rider has cracked it means he's run out of energy and has fallen off the pace. The overall contenders aim to crack their opponents in the high mountains of the Tour to gain time on them.
domestique - a rider whose job it is to support other riders in his team, in particular his team leader. He does so by delivering water to the riders from the team car and having teammates ride in his slipstream.
dropped - to fall off the pace of the group and fall behind.
escape - another term to describe the race leaders; the breakaway.
flamme rouge - a red banner hung over the road, signaling 1 kilometre to go to the stage finish line.
general classification - the overall leader board for the Tour, calculated according to the total time each rider has taken in the race. The leader in the general classification wears the maillot jaune.
green jersey - a green jersey worn by the points leader in the race. Points are awarded at the end of each stage and at intermediate sprints.
hit the wall - to run out of energy; to crack.
hors categorie (out of category) - a climb that is incredibly difficult, literally 'beyond categorisation.' Climbs range from category 1 (hardest) to category 4 (easiest), out of category climbs are harder than category 1 climbs.
individual time trial - an individual race against the clock over a shorter stage. Riders start in timed intervals in reverse order of position in the general classification and no drafting is allowed along the route.
intermediate sprint - a point along the stage at which points can be earned for the green jersey classification.
king of the mountains - a points classification in the Tour in which points are awarded at the top of climbs. The polka-dot jersey is awarded to the leader of this classification. Harder climbs earn more points. This classification is won by the most consistent climber in the Tour.
lanterne rouge - the last placed rider in the general classification. The lanterne rouge is given great respect by the other riders for being last, but nevertheless fighting to stay in the race.
maillot jaune - the yellow jersey worn by the overall race leader.
main field - the main body of riders; the peloton.
peloton - the main body of riders.
polka-dot jersey - the white and red spotted jersey worn by the leader of the King of the Mountains classification.
prologue - a short individual time trial that usually precedes the first stage of the tour. It is used to determine who will wear the maillot jaune.
sit up - when a rider eases his effort.
team time trial - a team race against the clock. Riders set off in their teams and race over a shorter course. Team members are awarded the time of the 5th rider in the team to cross the line.
white jersey - the jersey worn by the highest placed young rider in the general classification. Young riders are aged 25 and under.
yellow jersey - the wearer of the yellow jersey is the overall leader of the race; the maillot jaune.
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