How do cycling teams work

This means he has taken the least time so far overall the stages combined. The green jersey is for the general points jersey. This jersey is mostly obtained by the sprinters. At various times during the race, points are awarded for certain sprint sections. The green jersey goes to the rider who has achieved the most points during a race.

In order to qualify for this, they have to be under 25 years of age. Last, but not least, is the polka dot jersey. This jersey is worn by the best climber. Similar to the green jersey, there are certain mountain sections at various stages of the race where points are awarded to whoever wins the climb — more points are awarded for harder climbs.

Cycling is very much a team sport. A pro race features nine cyclists selected from a larger group of teammates. Teams work as units and each rider has various responsibilities based on their strengths. Usually, they are all working together to help one key person win. If a rider or several riders surged ahead of everyone else, the competitors might take on the burden of quickening the pace of the peloton.

For example, a domestique with a rider "up the road" might pull at the front of the peloton at a slow speed. Teams can also mount group attacks. One domestique will surge ahead and force a rival team to lead a chase. As soon as the peloton catches up, another domestique will surge ahead. The goal is to tire out the opposing teams and soften them up for a run to the finish by the team leader.

There are usually several races within a race. There could be "Sprints" where the first rider across a designated line within the course wins points towards being the sprint champion. There might be several of each of these mini-races within a race.

These riders then wear that jersey in the next day's race. Towards the finish of the race there might be a single rider who has gone away from the bunch to win the stage on their own. However, there might also be a "Bunch Sprint" to the finish which can be spectacular, high speed and dramatic with many riders having the desire to win. A domestique in a bunch sprint might act as a "Lead Out" where they ride as fast as possible with the team leader right behind them.

Then just before the finish line the Lead Out rider will pull out of the way to allow the team leader with conserved energy to surge for the line.

The total distance of the NZ Cycle Classic is in excess of km across the five stages. Taking into account the strength and weaknesses of their own team, and those of their opponents, team directors will decide which will be the protected rider, or riders, within the team before a given race. Numerous factors will influence who is chosen as leader. The most experienced, the healthiest, those in best form or those who possess specific skills which suit a particular course structure, are all factors which will determine who is chosen, and what subsequent tactics are adopted.

From here, the team director will direct riders via two-way radios, therefore keeping in constant contact with the riders, allowing for strategy and tactics to evolve and adapt to changing circumstances within the race. Changes in point structure set to affect strategy:. One interesting change made for the Tour de France, which could make a real difference to the destination of one of the jerseys, is a new system of points which is to be awarded for the intermediate sprints.

Within this system, a greater amount of points will be awarded for those first to cross the line at the intermediates. Subsequently, these changes are likely to demand that certain riders, such as Cavendish, change the way they race in order to remain competitive. Meanwhile, these changes are likely to benefit the likes of Thor Hushovd for the TdF. These changes mean that team directors will have to seriously reconsider the strategies they adopt.

Radios were introduced into professional cycling in the s, allowing managers to dictate team strategy to a much greater extent. Recently, there have been debates over whether or not radios should continue to be an integral part of professional cycling. The UCI originally voted to phase out the use of radio earpieces in the professional peloton by , given concerns that the technology was eroding the spontaneity and excitement of cycling.

A UCI spokesman declared the ban was to ensure races are not,. We would like to restore the spirit of the racing. You are the rider, you have to decide based on your instincts, you have to decide by yourself what you have to do, whether to attack or not. Riders such as Cancellara are opposed to the ban on radio communications. A fair point, but riders such as Cancellara have expressed their discontent at these developments,.

Cancellara has been joined by others such as Evans to suggest that race radios are needed for rider safety above anything else, and that race radios have already proved themselves to be a crucial element in protecting riders from upcoming hazards. The case of former Dutch junior time trial champion Jelle Lugten illustrates just how important radios can be.

The Dutchman was hit head on by a car, which entered the course after disobeying race marshals. Many believe that the accident could have been avoided if Lugten was equipped with a radio. Consequently, since the vote to phase out team radios, riders have voiced their dissatisfaction with the ruling.

The Association of Professional Racers questioned a total of riders from across Europe, with the results revealing only 40 to be in favour of a complete ban, while revealed they were in support of the continued use of radios without any restrictions. Rabobank are united in support of team radios. This essentially means that team radio chatter would be broadcast live during races, with the intention of allowing viewers to experience even more of the race.

Nevertheless, there are several issues which could potentially arise as a consequence of this development. For instance, one commentator has suggested that teams would only discuss misleading strategies via radio, intended to confuse and deceive their opponents. Are you in favour of a ban on team radios or opposed?