Do you always find bicycle races confusing? Want to understand how to decipher bicycle racing and get your blood pumping with excitement?

Understanding Bicycle Races

For those who own bicycles, are you gradually realizing that cycling isn't just about leisurely rides and enjoying the scenery? Besides the pleasure of admiring scenic routes, the best part of cycling is the exhilarating feeling of breaking the wind while racing and the fun of friendly competition with fellow riders (or so we assume).

This article aims to introduce various domestic and international bicycle races, helping you understand the world of bicycle racing and get ready to immerse yourself in the thrill of riding alongside cyclists!

First, let's get to know the types of bicycle races.
Bicycle races are primarily divided into two main categories: "Road Races" and "Time Trials".
(This article will focus on the introduction of road races).

Road Races

Road races are further divided into the following types:

‧ Long-Distance Road Races
- Typically covering distances of over 100KM with significant elevation changes.
- Representative Races: Grand Tours, Tour de Taiwan, Tour de Hualien, Love 197 Road Race.

‧ Circuit Races
- Distances are usually shorter, under 90KM, and the terrain is mostly flat.
- Representative Races: Tour de Taiwan Taipei Stage, Guanshan Riverside Circuit Race.

‧ Hill Climb Races
- Held on mountainous terrain with substantial climbing.
- KOM King of the Mountain Wu-Ling Cup.

Time Trials

Time trials are categorized based on the number of participants:

‧ Individual Time Trials
- Each rider starts individually at the same intervals.

Time trials are categorized based on the number of participants:

‧ Team Time Trials
- Usually consists of teams with three or more members, and the results are not solely based on individual performance.

Next, let's introduce world-class bicycle races, giving you more opportunities to passionately watch the races.
Let's dive into it!

Giro d'Italia

First, let's introduce the ongoing Giro d'Italia, which is one of the three major UCI road cycling races.

Initially organized in 1909 by the Milan Sports Newspaper to boost sales, the race has been held annually since its first edition in 1909, with only interruptions during World War I and II. As its popularity and participants grew, the race distance also extended.

The route mainly covers multi-stage cycling races held in Italy, and sometimes includes neighboring countries' venues (like Hungary). The race usually takes place in May, following the Spring Classics and preceding the Tour de France.

Next, let's introduce the Tour de France and Vuelta a España.

Tour de France

The Tour de France is considered the benchmark of the three major cycling races, with over a century of history. It's the oldest and most well-known competition.

Held in early July every year, the total race distance is about 3000KM to 4000KM. The exact route varies each year, but it usually circumnavigates France, and the final stage always passes through the heart of Paris along the Champs-Élysées, with a view of the Eiffel Tower. This gives the Tour de France its most romantically French ending.

Vuelta a España

The Vuelta a España is the youngest of the three major races, first held in 1935.

It was mainly influenced by the Tour de France and Giro d'Italia. Due to the Spanish Civil War and World War II, it was interrupted and only became an annual event in 1955. The most distinctive feature of the Vuelta a España compared to the other two races is the abundance of uphill sections. It's especially exciting if you want to witness attacks from the peloton or individual breakaways.

Below is an image of global World Tour teams. Check if your favorite rider is part of any of these teams and show your support!

Are There Internationally Recognized Cycling Events in Taiwan?

The answer is: Yes!

It's the Tour de Taiwan, held around March each year, categorized as a 2.1-rated stage race with five stages in total.

Starting from Taipei, you can witness Taiwan's top rider Feng Jun-kai and a team of renowned domestic cyclists compete internationally. TVBS provides live coverage throughout the race, so during this period, you'll often find yourself glued to the computer screen!

Know which races to watch but find it hard to understand? No problem! The following will explain simple race terms and basic concepts, enhancing your enjoyment of watching the races.

Road Race Team Composition

‧ All-Rounder - Riders who excel in climbing, sprinting, and time trials. They often take on the role of team leaders.

‧ Endurance Rider - Riders skilled in riding on flat or bumpy terrains.

‧ Support Staff - They have diverse responsibilities, including massages, preparing supplies, driving team cars, and even handling various tasks during the race such as maintenance, washing, and guiding team strategy.

‧ Captain - Riders responsible for leading the team's tactics and conveying instructions. Typically, they are more experienced and have outstanding abilities. Captains might also be the team leaders.

‧ Team Leader - The strongest rider in the team, with the best chance of achieving the best individual overall results.

‧ Lieutenant - Slightly weaker than the team leader, used to support the leader, including leading, launching tactical attacks, and potentially taking on the leader's role if necessary.

‧ Sprinter - Skilled in obtaining sprint points, crucial during mass sprints for victory, often positioned by the team's lieutenants in advantageous positions.

‧ Climber - Skilled in obtaining climbing points, particularly in mountain stages, where they take turns leading the peloton towards the summit.

‧ Lead-Out and Rabbit - They maintain a steady pace for the team leader and lieutenant to conserve energy for the final sprint.

‧ Domestique - Carries essential supplies during the race to support the team leader's completion of the race.

Road Race Content and Terminology

‧ Catch - When a rider catches up with the leading group.

‧ Attack - When a rider accelerates away from the main group, also known as a breakaway. The objective is to gain attention, expose sponsors, and potentially win a single stage or claim the leader's jersey.

‧ Did Not Finish (DNF) - A rider who couldn't complete the race, possibly due to injury or other reasons.

‧ Did Not Start (DNS) - A rider who couldn't start the race, sometimes due to personal reasons or preparation for other races. Sometimes, a rider participates to assess their condition and withdraws if feeling okay.

‧ Disqualified (DSQ) - A rider who fails to comply with regulations or continues to violate rules after being warned, leading to disqualification.

‧ Points (Mountain Points, Sprint Points) - Points awarded to riders when they reach mountain or sprint points during the race.

‧ Feed Zone - A designated area where teams provide riders with supplies. Attacks are generally not launched in this zone.

‧ General Classification (G.C.) - The final overall ranking of a race, where the rider with the lowest accumulated time becomes the general classification leader.

‧ Peloton - The main group of riders in the race, often forming a long line when riding at high speeds.

‧ Climb Classification - The calculation method for categorizing climbs based on their slope:
- Above 200 is Hors Catégorie (H.C. Category)
- 120 to 200 is Category 1
- 50 to 120 is Category 2
- 20 to 50 is Category 3
- Below 20 is Category 4

Road Race Honors and Awards

‧ Combativity Award - Awarded to the rider with the most outstanding performance in attacking, chasing breakaways, etc. Sometimes awarded to a rider who finishes despite being injured. Although it doesn't involve a colored jersey, it comes with a special-colored race number.

‧ General Classification Winner - The rider ranked first in the G.C., with the least cumulative time.

‧ King of the Mountains - The rider with the highest mountain classification points.

‧ Points Classification Winner - The rider with the highest sprint classification points.

‧ Best Young Rider - The top-ranked rider under 25 years old in the overall classification.

Various Honorary Jerseys:

If you're watching the Giro d'Italia and you see only one jersey like this, it means there's a high probability that the rider is wearing the leader's jersey~ (It could also be the national champion's jersey or the world champion's rainbow jersey)! The Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, and Vuelta a España each have different leader's jerseys. Achieving all three makes you a "Triple Crown" winner in cycling history!

After reading this article, I believe you'll have a better understanding of watching road cycling races, allowing you to enjoy the excitement and tension. However, it's not just road cycling races; there are also thrilling mountain bike races, track races, BMX, and other exciting competitions both locally and internationally for you to explore and discover~

While watching the races, are you itching to experience the thrill of riding a bicycle yourself?

"Riding a bicycle with a phone but not knowing where to put it" has always been a concern for many cyclists. If you like switching between a bike computer and a phone, I recommend Bone's exclusive design: Tie Connect 2 Bike Bundle, compatible with Garmin bike mounts, allowing seamless transitions between your bike computer and phone!