Attack:

An effort to accelerate away from another rider or group of riders.

Break or breakaway:

A rider or group of riders that leaves the main group.

Bridge:

To leave one group of racers and join another group further ahead.

Bonk:

Cyclist's term for fatigue caused by lack of sufficient food during a long race or ride.

Circuit race:

A multi-lap event on a course usually two miles or more in length.

Criterium:

A multi-lap event on a course typically a mile or less in length.

Directeur Sportif:

A team's manager or coach.

Disc Wheels:

Solid, non-spoked wheels used in time trials because of their aerodynamic characteristics.

Domestique:

A support rider on a racing team. He may give up his bike or a wheel, or collect food or drink for his team leader, sacrificing his own place in the race.

Drafting:

Riding in a slipstream -- or pocket of still air -- created by the racer in front.

Echelon:

A staggered line of racers formed to combat a crosswind or a headwind.

General Classification (or GC):

Overall positions in a stage race decided by the total accumulated time for each rider on each stage.

King of the Mountains:

The leader of the climber's competition in a stage race, in which points are awarded to the first riders over designated hills and mountain passes.

Lead-out:

Term for a rider who sacrifices his own chances at the end of a race so that a teammate can rest in his draft and conserve energy for the final sprint.

Musette:

A light cotton shoulder bag used for carrying food. In stage races, a musette is handed to the moving racers in the feed zone by team officials.

Peloton:

French for the main group of racers.

Prime:

French (say "preem") for a cash prize awarded for a specific sprint or summit.

Prologue:

The short individual time trial that customarily starts a stage race

Road Race:

A point-to-point race requiring endurance and strength over rural roads and highways. Distances in U.S. races can range from 65 to 120 miles.

Rolling a Tire:

When a tubular tire is not glued well to the rim, it can roll off the rim when the racer corners on his bike.

Sitting in (or on):

Riding in the slipstream of another rider without contributing to the pace-making.

Soigneur:

A race team's assistant who provides massage, nutritional advice, and performs general tasks for the riders.

Stage Race:

A multi-day race such as the Redlands Classic in which the final result depends on the addition of times taken for each stage.

Tubular Tire (also "sew up"):

Ultra-light bicycle tire with the inner tube sewn into the tread.