Road bicycle racing
Paved-road cycling sport governed by the UCI.
Road bicycle racing is the cycle sport discipline of road cycling, held primarily on paved roads. It is the most popular professional form of bicycle racing, in terms of numbers of competitors, events and spectators.
- Governing body
- Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI)
- Major competition formats
- Mass start, time trial, stage races
- Biggest event
- Tour de France
Lore & Background
Historically, the most competitive countries were Belgium, France, and Italy, with road cycling spreading to other nations after World War II.
Reader's Guide
Tactics such as drafting and breakaways are central to racing strategy. The sport has globalized, with countries like Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States producing world-class cyclists. Stage races include three Grand Tours: the Giro d'Italia, Tour de France, and Vuelta a España. Ultra-distance events like the Race Across America, sanctioned by the Ultramarathon Cycling Association, are independent of the UCI. The sport's legacy includes a rich history of classic races and continuous evolution in equipment and tactics.
Did You Know?
- Drafting in the peloton can save as much as 40% of the energy used in forward motion.
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