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FAQs |
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| Click on a subject to learn more about professional cycling. |
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It depends. For example, in the three Grand Tours -- France, Italy and Spain -- each team starts with nine riders. Some races have six riders, others have up to 10. Normally, between eight and nine team members participate. There is also a minimum number of riders each team can start with. If a team comes to the line with two or three short of the minimum, there is a strong chance the race officials will not let the team compete. No rules state how many riders have to finish races, in fact we've seen some teams at the Tour de France finish with just two or three. However, there are strict rules stipulating how many riders need to start. |
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Our staff decide which riders participate in what event. Before the season starts, the staff go through the team calendar and decide which events suit the riders on the roster. They also take into consideration whether an individual rider is aiming to peak for a particular event. For example, a rider planning to win events in April (Spring Classic events) must have a certain number of races under his belt in February and March -- not too many to wear him down -- but enough to get him in shape for the gruelling events in April. Riders preparing for the Tour de France, will begin the season with a bit of ’training‘ This means participating in season races, but not pushing too hard. Over the weeks theriders gradually build up their fitness and stamina, so by mid June, they are at their peak. Cycling is such a difficult sport and has such a long season, it's almost impossible to be race-fit all year round and win every race. Each rider will have a few season goals and, if these fit the team's objectives, the staff will create a race programme helping that rider to peak at the time of his chosen race. Other points are obvious: a very hilly race needs climbers; a fast, flat race needs sprinters, etc. |
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Many. When a race begins with 150-180 starters, there are usually 10 or so that could potentially win. So, the riders chosen to be team leaders on that particular day are ’protected’. This means they can take it easy within the bunch whilst others do the work of getting food, chasing down breaks up in front, etc. Each rider plays a very important role in the team not unlike how a team works in American football. An offensive lineman will probably never score a touchdown and get himself on television -- unless he does something wrong -- but at the same time, if he doesn't block correctly, the running back doesn't score or the quarterback doesn't have the time to throw the touchdown. Not a very glamorous role, but nevertheless vital to the success of the team.. The same goes for cycling -- if a team needs to chase down a dangerous breakaway because they don't have a rider in it, they get to the front of the main group and turn = up the speed a few miles an hour. The riders then rotate on the front, doing all, or at least the majority, of the work until the breakaway is brought back. Meanwhile, the ’protected‘ rider is back in the main field drafting or ’sitting in’. He still has to pedal, but he can save energy because his team-mates are doing most of the work, thus giving him a better chance to win at the end. |
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Usually, though this depends on the course. In the Tour de France, for example, some teams enter the race knowing full well there is no chance of winning the overall race. Their strategy is to select certain days that may suit the skills of their team riders and attempt to win that stage. However, sometimes plans fail and it's every rider for himself. |
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Every rider and staff member must be totally committed to reaching the team goals. That is the only way a team can succeed. We have been fortunate over the years in having riders and staff that follow the game plan. |
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Lance Armstrong has always stressed that he could not have been seven times winner of the Tour de France without the help of his team mates. |
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In every race, or most road races, each team has a ’follow car‘ that drives behind the main group of riders. A team mechanic is in the back seat, waiting for some problem to occur. When it does, he is on hand-- ready to fix it. When a rider gets a flat tyre he puts his arm in the air, the race official will then radio the rider’s team car. The car then catches up with the rider and takes care of the problem. There are no time-outs in cycling, so the repair must be done quickly, and it's up to the rider to get back in the race. So the pressure is on the mechanic to perform quickly. |
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Speeds vary according to the type of descent, but speeds can reach up to 60-70 mph. |
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Meals are pretty typical during the Tour -- not too fancy, just what is required to get the job done, fuel for the next day's stage. Breakfast usually consists of eggs, pasta, rice, bread, yoghurt and cereals. Lunch usually has to be skipped, as the races tend to start around 11 am and finish at 5 pm. The team will snack on cereal and high-protein foods after the stage, and dinner is usually meats, pasta, rice, salad, bread and a small dessert. |
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This is a hard question to answer. Races vary in length and terrain, so races are rarely typical. Normally, races don't start too early, so there’s no need for an early wake-up. Most start around 11 am or noon and last until 4 or 5 pm. Times can vary depending on TV coverage. Often, the team needs to drive one or two hours to the start and then another hour to the next hotel (as in the Tour de France). Other one-day events don't have hotel changes, which helps everyone out. |
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In the Tour each rider must wear a helmet during regular road stages. . This is a recent rule, which was added for rider safety. However, if the stage finishes on a mountaintop, the riders are allowed to remove their helmets at a certain point of the race on the final climb. The only other helmet they will wear is a time-trial helmet, which is more aerodynamic and built specifically to cut through the wind and provide the rider with less air drag. In a time trial, the rider wears different clothing, rides a different bike, and wears a different helmet, all based around reducing air drag, so the rider provides less wind resistance. |
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Usually, fans are there to pick them up and take them home as souvenirs. Many fans stake out a spot in the ‘feed zone’ during a Tour stage. This is the spot where riders are allowed to take a food bag from a staff member. Because bottles are tossed away and bags are dropped at this point, spectators have a chance to bring home a souvenir. |
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