Common bicycle races, feel the charm of cycling competition
In the field of cycling, various types of competitions are wonderful, each with its own unique rules and charm. Today, let us take a deeper look at common bicycle competitions.
Road racesRoad races are a common type of bicycle race, and they include many different forms of competitions. One-day races: As a type of road race, one-day races are a common way of competing in road individual races of important events such as the World Championships and the Olympic Games. The competition is participated in by teams, and each team is neatly lined up in a column behind the starting line and sets off collectively.
The track is usually chosen on hillsides and slopes with undulating terrain. The road width is generally not less than 6 meters (not less than 8 meters at the start and end), and a circular road will also be used. During the competition, athletes can exchange food, drinks, tools and accessories with each other, and team members can also exchange tires and bicycles, and can wait for injured or lagging teammates. At the same time, there are public and team maintenance equipment vehicles to follow and guarantee. The final ranking is determined by the order in which the athletes pass the finish line. Multi-day stage race: referred to as "multi-day race". The number of days for the race depends on the level, with a minimum of 2 days and a maximum of more than 20 days.
The race consists of a combination of various road race forms such as the prologue, individual race, individual time trial, and team time trial. The terrain of the race is complex and diverse, covering flat roads, slopes, and undulating roads. The race is based on the cumulative time of each segment to rank the total individual and team rankings. The time of the top three athletes in each segment is added to form the team score. The athlete with the leading individual score must wear a yellow jersey in the next stage. In the middle of the stage, flat road and slope sprint awards will be set up through points. The first place in the total points will be awarded the title of sprint king and mountaineering king. Tours such as the Tour of France, the Tour of Italy, and the Tour of Spain are top-level national multi-day races for elite athletes, and there are also peace grand prix across countries and regions (Czech Republic, Poland, Germany).
Individual time trial: Athletes need to ride the entire course at a constant speed in an individual manner. During the race, the average heart rate can reach about 185 beats per minute. The time interval between the start of the athletes is between 30 seconds and 2 minutes (1 minute and 30 seconds for the Olympics), and the final ranking is based on the performance. Team time trial: This is an event that can reflect the strength of the whole team. The world's traditional competition is held on a specific turning road. The distance of the Olympic Games and the World Championships is 100 kilometers. Each team consists of 4 athletes, and the start interval between teams is 2-3 minutes. During the competition, the 4 athletes will form a team according to the wind direction, adopt a strategy of uniform and high-speed riding, and keep the heart rate at about 180 beats per minute. Each person takes turns to lead the team for about 200 meters and then retreat to the end of the team, and exchange positions with each other. The heart rate of the leader in the front is usually about 10 beats per minute higher than that of the follower. When reaching the finish line, the time when the third athlete of the team arrives is used as the team's result, and then the ranking is determined according to the results of each team.
Individual competition: Participants register for the competition in their own name and start collectively after the start and finish line. The longest race distance is 170 kilometers. If it is held on a loop, the circumference of the loop is at least 10 kilometers.
Velocity RaceVelocity race also includes a wide variety of events, each with its own unique features. Time trial: This is a type of individual time trial in velodrome races. Athletes start on the track alone. The distance of the World Cup and World Championships is 1000 meters for men and 500 meters for women. Athletes start with starting blocks. In terms of the starting order, the top 10 athletes of the previous year are arranged in the last order to start. The starting order of other athletes is determined by drawing lots. All athletes must complete the race in the same unit and are finally ranked according to their results. In addition, the qualifying round of the sprint race is timed by starting at 200 meters, and the top 12 or 24 are admitted to the next round according to their results.
Sprint: It is a short-distance race, held on a field with a circumference of 333.33 meters or 250 meters. The number of laps varies depending on the field. Fields with a circumference greater than 333.33 meters must have at least 2 laps. The total time of the race is not counted, and the first one to reach the finish line wins. The race is divided into qualifying, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, and finals. In the qualifying round, 12-24 athletes are selected through a 200-meter time trial to enter the sprint. Before the 1/4 race, the losers can compete for re-qualification through a revival race. After the 1/4 race, a best-of-three system is implemented. The race is divided into groups, with 2-3 people in each group starting at the starting line at the same time. After the start, the inner lane athlete must lead a lap at a speed faster than walking. Starting from the second lap, especially the last 200 meters, the athletes will use various tactics to rush across the finish line with all their strength.
Individual pursuit: At a fixed distance, two athletes start at the same time at the starting and finishing lines in the middle of the east and west tracks of the velodrome, and then chase each other. The race distance varies according to gender and age group, 4 kilometers for men, 3 kilometers for young men, 3 kilometers for women, and 2 kilometers for young women. In the race, if the athlete behind is side by side with the athlete in front, the athlete in front will be eliminated; if they fail to catch up, the one who reaches the finish line first wins, and the winner enters the next round, which includes qualifying, 1/4, 1/2, and finals.
Team pursuit: Two teams of 4 athletes each compete in a 4-kilometer race. The rules of the race are the same as those of the individual pursuit. Points race: The ranking is determined by the number of laps that the athlete leads the main group during the race distance and the final sprint score. The race distance varies depending on the participating groups, 40 kilometers for adult men, 24 kilometers for adult women, 24 kilometers for young men, and 20 kilometers for young women. The race is divided into qualifying and finals. The qualifying round is held when there are more than 30 people in the adult group and more than 15 people in the youth group. The qualifying round distance is also stipulated accordingly. At the start, half of the athletes hold the railings, and the other half line up on the fast riding line. The race officially starts after a designated athlete leads a pre-running lap. A sprint is conducted every 2 kilometers along the way. The top four are scored according to the sprint ranking. Finally, the ranking is determined based on the number of completed laps, the number of points, and the number of first place in the sprint laps. If a recognized mechanical accident occurs during the race, the athlete can enjoy a 1,300-meter neutral lap.
Keirin: A race in which a group of athletes are towed by a motorcycle for a certain number of laps before sprinting. The race is divided into multiple rounds, including the first qualifying round, the resurrection round, the second qualifying round, and the final. The first qualifying round is divided into groups, and a certain number of people are admitted to each group. The losers will compete for the opportunity to participate again through the resurrection round. The second qualifying round is also admitted according to regulations. The finals are decided among a certain number of athletes (8 for the 333.33-meter track and 6 for other tracks), and the order of crossing the finish line is used. During the competition, the athletes are arranged at the starting line of the pursuit race, and the accompanying personnel support the motorcycle to start. The motorcycle leader gradually accelerates, and the athletes cannot overtake the motorcycle. When the distance from the finish line is 600-700 meters, the motorcycle leaves and the athletes start to sprint.
Olympic sprint: two teams of 3 athletes each start at the same time, each athlete leads 1 lap and completes 3 laps on the track. The qualifying round is held first, and the 4 teams with the best results are selected according to the time to participate in the final. The two teams with the best results in the final compete for the first and second places, and the other two teams compete for the third and fourth places. 8 teams are selected in the qualifying rounds of the World Championships and national competitions, and they compete in pairs according to the results. The 4 winning teams enter the finals. Each athlete will withdraw from the race after the end of his or her own leading lap. Lane changes must be made between 15 meters before and after the start and finish line. Violators will be relegated to the last place in the race.
Madison Race: This is a relay race with two athletes in teams, with a distance of 50 kilometers. There is a sprint during the race, and the final ranking is determined by the number of leading laps and sprint points. The sprint points of the first to fourth place in the sprint are different, and the sprint points of the last lap are doubled. On tracks of different lengths, there are corresponding regulations for the sprint interval and the total number of sprint laps. A maximum of a certain number of teams (20 teams for tracks longer than 333.33 meters and 18 teams for other tracks) can participate, and only one final will be held. Two members of each team wear different colors and the same number. If a member falls or a mechanical accident occurs, the members of the same team will immediately take his or her place. If two members of the same team fall at the same time, they can enjoy a specific neutral lap (except for the last 2000 meters).
Elimination round: An individual competition in which multiple athletes start collectively and the last athlete is eliminated after each sprint. There is no limit on the number of participants. If there are too many participants, a group qualifying round can be held. At the beginning of the competition, one athlete is designated to lead the first lap as a neutral lap. After that, the athletes start while moving. Depending on the track, a sprint is performed every 1-2 laps. A bell is used before the sprint lap to remind the eliminated athletes to leave the track immediately. The last two athletes make the final sprint, and the ranking is determined by the order of passing the start and finish line. Points race (some events): The best results are selected through time trials or the same finals, so that the team or number of people entering the next round meets the requirements of the round. For example, the sprint, team pursuit, individual pursuit, Olympic sprint, etc. use the time trial method, and the points race, elimination race, and keirin race use the same final method.
Revival race: It mainly appears in the sprint and keirin races of the circuit race. In the sprint race, the losers of each group can have one chance to compete against each other, and the winners can enter the next round. However, there is no revival match for the losers in the 1/4 round. In the first qualifying round of the keirin race, the losers of the group can also qualify again through the revival match.
Mountain Bike Race Mountain Bike Race has a variety of events and is full of challenges. Mountain Cross-Country Race: There are four types: lap, ultra-long, short and endurance. The circuit race is at least 6 km per lap, and the duration varies according to the classification; the ultra-long race is at least 30 km, with obvious changes in altitude, and can start collectively or individually (time trial), usually with different start and finish points, but the loop of the big circle can be the same; the short race route is up to 6 km per week, starting and ending in the same place, natural or artificial obstacles can be set up under the premise of ensuring safety, and a maximum of 80 athletes riding on the race route at the same time; the endurance race is a comprehensive long-distance event that tests athletes' cycling skills, mechanical fault handling, riding according to the map and speed endurance. The time can last for 2 days or more, with multiple checkpoints and different routes.
Downhill race: Abbreviated as "DH", this is a less pedaling, fast and slow technology combination, and mainly technical competition. The race route must have 3% paved road (such as asphalt, cement, etc.), and all downhill riding sections are composed of single tracks, jumps, slow sections, fields, forest roads and gravel roads.
The competition adopts the form of individual time trial, and the ranking is arranged according to the results. Stage race: A series of events are carried out in 2 days or more, and the ranking of the competition is determined by the total time or total score. The top competition lasts for at least 5 days and at most 8 days; the secondary competition lasts for at least 2 days and at most 4 days.
Hill climbing race: The race is usually about 30 minutes, depending on the uphill terrain. The race route should include at least 80% uphill riding sections. It can be started collectively or individually, with the starting point set at a designated location and the end point set at a higher altitude. Double pole race: Two athletes ride side by side downhill on a track with fixed and flexible poles. The first one to pass the end pole is the winner. The final winner is determined by the elimination round.
BMX race: BMX, full name BICYCLE MOTOCROSS, emerged in the United States in the mid-to-late 1970s and was originally a bicycle cross-country sport. Later, influenced by skateboard culture, its playing methods became more diverse, and BMX FREESTYLE (freestyle BMX bicycle) was developed, which is divided into five types: Racing, DIRTJUMP, STREET, HALFPIPE, and FATLAND. Flatland is a basic and important type, with hundreds of movements. Beginners need to improve their static balance ability first, and then practice dynamic balance. The body of BMX is generally made of alloy, and there are many special features in the design, such as the handlebars that can rotate 360 degrees, the "bazooka" of the front and rear wheels, etc., and replacing some small parts can meet the needs of different playing methods.
After learning about so many bicycle competitions, do you have a deeper understanding of bicycle sports? Each competition has its own unique charm. Whether it is the speed and endurance competition of road races, the skills and strategy competition of racing tracks, or the adventure and challenge of mountain bike races, they all attract countless bicycle enthusiasts to participate.
