| ATTACK |
When a racer quickly accelerates in an attempt to separate himself from other riders. |
| BLOCKING |
Setting a relatively slow tempo at the front of a group to control the speed, often to the advantage of teammates who may be in a break. |
| BREAKAWAY (OR BREAK) |
When a small group of riders or an individual successfully gap the peloton. |
| BRIDGE |
To close the distance between yourself and the rider or group in front of you. |
| CHASE |
A group of one or more riders ahead of the peloton, trying to bridge up to the race leader. |
| COUNTER ATTACK |
When a rider(s) launches an attack at the precise moment that a previous attack fails from another rider(s). |
| DOMESTIQUE |
A rider whose job is to support and work for other riders within his team (literally "servant" in French). |
| DRAFTING |
To ride closely behind another rider, reducing wind resistance and up to 30 percent of the effort required to ride at the same speed. |
| DROPPED |
When a rider cannot maintain contact with the breakaway or peloton. |
| GAP |
A distance between two or more riders that is large enough to eliminate the benefit of drafting. |
| FREE LAP |
After a mishap, racers are allowed to miss one lap without penalty to repair the problem or rejoin from a crash (note: this pertains to a criterium only). |
| LEADOUT |
When teams set up a sprinter by lifting the race pace and letting their sprinter draft until the last few seconds of the race. The sprinter conserves his energy and then comes around his own teammates as fast as he can in an effort to win the event. |
| PACELINE |
A group of riders who increase their speed by drafting one another. Riders take short turns at the front to break the wind, then rotate to the back of the line to rest in the draft. |
| PELOTON |
The large main group or pack in a bicycle race. |
| PRIME (pronounced preeme) |
A one lap sprint within a criterium race for cash or prizes. An official will randomly announce these during the race to keep the excitement high (note: this pertains to a criterium only). |
| PULL OR PULL-THROUGH |
To take a turn at the front of a paceline. |
