Post by:
Unknown - Friday, November 16, 2012
About the Author:
If you are a newcomer to the world of professional cycling and have recently started watching grand tour races on television, then there may well be some confusion over what all the riders are actually racing for, and what the different jerseys that they are awarded actually mean. Road bike racing is best understood as consisting of several races within a race. This means that there are different things to race for between riders with differing specialities.
Perhaps the most famous jersey in the sport is the yellow jersey of the Tour de France. The winner of this jersey is the winner of the General Classification of the race, which is the person who has taken the least time to complete the whole grand tour. This jersey has different colours depending on the race it is awarded for, with red being favoured in the Vuelta a Espana.
The General Classification is usually competed for by all-round strong riders, but there are other jerseys to race for for riders who have more specialist skills. Each grand tour is divided into stages which take place on each day of the race. Some riders will compete to win stages, and to record as many stage wins as possible during a tour.
A rider is awarded points for each stage win they manage, as well as for place finishes like second and third. Other points are on offer in the so-called interim sprints, where the first and place riders past certain points in the stage are awarded points. Whoever collects the most of these points throughout the course of the race will be presented with the points winner's jersey, which is usually green.
Other riders with exceptional endurance and strength compete for the King of the Mountains jersey in the grand tours of the sport. Rider win this jersey by being awarded points for being the first rider to pass certain points on the hilly sections of the stage. Any rider who accumulates enough of these mountain points will be awarded the King of the Mountains jersey, which is a red on white polka dot jersey for the Tour de France.
Those three jerseys are the main ones competed for by riders in the grand tours and major races in the sport. But cycling is a team sport, and there are many ways in which other riders contribute to the success of their team mates. Whatever jersey they are competing for, every rider needs the help of their team mates to take them to success, whether they are a sprinter chasing green or a contender for the yellow jersey.
This is where the riders known as 'domestiques' come into their own. While the role may sound unglamorous, it is one of the most important jobs in cycling. These riders are hard-working team members who pace the jersey contenders into position. They drive sprinters towards the line on flat, fast finishes, and help contenders for the General Classification stay in contention on long climbs and testing stretches of the course.
This kind of complexity is what makes cycling such as gripping and entertaining sport to both participate in and watch. There are several contests taking place at any one time during a race. This means that a variety of riders are competing, who all have different strengths and weaknesses, for races within a race.
Perhaps the most famous jersey in the sport is the yellow jersey of the Tour de France. The winner of this jersey is the winner of the General Classification of the race, which is the person who has taken the least time to complete the whole grand tour. This jersey has different colours depending on the race it is awarded for, with red being favoured in the Vuelta a Espana.
The General Classification is usually competed for by all-round strong riders, but there are other jerseys to race for for riders who have more specialist skills. Each grand tour is divided into stages which take place on each day of the race. Some riders will compete to win stages, and to record as many stage wins as possible during a tour.
A rider is awarded points for each stage win they manage, as well as for place finishes like second and third. Other points are on offer in the so-called interim sprints, where the first and place riders past certain points in the stage are awarded points. Whoever collects the most of these points throughout the course of the race will be presented with the points winner's jersey, which is usually green.
Other riders with exceptional endurance and strength compete for the King of the Mountains jersey in the grand tours of the sport. Rider win this jersey by being awarded points for being the first rider to pass certain points on the hilly sections of the stage. Any rider who accumulates enough of these mountain points will be awarded the King of the Mountains jersey, which is a red on white polka dot jersey for the Tour de France.
Those three jerseys are the main ones competed for by riders in the grand tours and major races in the sport. But cycling is a team sport, and there are many ways in which other riders contribute to the success of their team mates. Whatever jersey they are competing for, every rider needs the help of their team mates to take them to success, whether they are a sprinter chasing green or a contender for the yellow jersey.
This is where the riders known as 'domestiques' come into their own. While the role may sound unglamorous, it is one of the most important jobs in cycling. These riders are hard-working team members who pace the jersey contenders into position. They drive sprinters towards the line on flat, fast finishes, and help contenders for the General Classification stay in contention on long climbs and testing stretches of the course.
This kind of complexity is what makes cycling such as gripping and entertaining sport to both participate in and watch. There are several contests taking place at any one time during a race. This means that a variety of riders are competing, who all have different strengths and weaknesses, for races within a race.
About the Author:
Visit www.velorefined.co.uk for a large stock of bikes and accessories including ENVE wheels
Jika anda suka silahkan tautkan ke artikel ini
You've just read an article category dengan judul How Do Professional Cyclists Win Jerseys In Cycling Grand Tours. You can bookmark this page with a URL http://recreationsportsupdates.blogspot.com/2012/11/how-do-professional-cyclists-win.html. Terima kasih!
Please Give Me Posting Rating ...
