Spirit of a Cyclist

Like raging bulls there's a sense of relentless competition which runs through their veins combined with blind ambition and fierce determination to see it through to the finish line. It's not enough to just race, it's a race to be the best. Blood pumps through their veins as they push beyond their normal limits. It's more than physical, it's mental, it's everything they are and it's what they believe in. They are cyclists!

Cycling is not just a sport, it's a state of mind, it's a mark of identity, it's a way of life. It's a dream that requires dedication and a relentless effort to live out what they believe in. To win, it takes what super heroes are made of. With months of hard work and 1000's of hours of preparation, this sport is no joke! It's not for the weak-hearted and much less for the weak-minded. Get out of the way - every second counts as the momentum builds and adrenaline rises.

To really be able to enjoy the sport of cycling, you have to understand what the strategies of the sport are all about. Teams are made up of eight riders consisting of seven "domestiques" otherwise known as riders who are members of the same team and who do everything in their power to support the team leader. There is one team leader in every team. The team leader usually rides at the back of the team so that the front riders cut the wind making it easier for the team lead to pedal. This is known as "drafting" which helps the team lead to preserve up to 40% of his energy. This is especially useful when competing in long events. This is one of the many strategies of cycling.

The various teams in a cycling road race ride in eight member clusters known as a "pelotons" with the ultimate strategy in mind which is to take their team leader to the finish and a goal of winning 1st place.

Since 2018, the total number of riders in the men's road race competitions was restricted to eight riders instead of nine riders for Grand Tours. This was developed to improve safety in cycling races. While it may be hard to believe, cycling can be dangerous and like all serious sports, there have been fatalities.

Cycling is all about strategies! When the breaking off of a team member comes into play it requires the other members of the team to switch off pulling higher speeds and expending tons of energy to keep thrusting the team forward in an organized cluster.

Opposing teams can also mount group attacks. One domestique from an opposing team can jet ahead to force its rival team to lead a chase. As soon as the pack catches up, another domestique from the opposing team will take the position and jet ahead. The opposition's goal is to exhaust the members of the leading team to eventually get to the team lead ultimately wiping out the entire team.

When this happens, there's no time to hesitate as every member of the peloton has to pull together to fill-in the gaps. In some instances, the "attack" of one member breaking away creates a "chase" while other times, it requires the "domestiques" to form a block to keep the rivals from mounting a chase. One way of blocking is for a domestique from an opposing team to pull in front of the leading team slowing them down. The anxiety builds as the peloton deals with opposing team challenges. It becomes a breath-taking, heart-racing, muscle-burning competition requiring massive amounts of stamina and perseverence to stay in the lead.

Regardless of the race, at the end, 1st place is well earned. May the best team win!

Crowds surround them as they race through the streets on the Tour de France.