
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 26, 1995                   TAG: 9504270019
SECTION: TOUR DUPONT                    PAGE: TD-20   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

GLOSSARY

Attack: When a rider attempts to force the pace by sprinting from the front. If an attack is successful, it can lead to a breakaway and, possibly, a victory.

Biff: Crash.

Blocking: Getting in the way of other riders, usually to prevent them from chasing a teammate.

Bonking: When an athlete's muscles quit because of a lack of oxygen to the muscles and from working too hard in a race without maintaining a proper intake of food and drink. Also known as ``hitting the wall.''

Breakaway: When a rider or group of riders sprints from the main pack of cyclists.

Bridging the gap: When a rider of group of riders is able to leave the pack to catch the breakaway group.

Chase group: A group of riders ahead of the main field of the peloton trying to catch a breakaway. If a chase group is to be successful, all the riders in the group must work together, taking turns ``pulling'' each other along, using less energy. Often, if a teammate of a breakaway rider is in the chase group, he will work against the group by not pulling and ``dragging'' on the wheel of opponents, helping his teammate retain the lead.

Directeur sportif: The coach, or director of a team.

Domestique: A team rider who will sacrifice his own ambitions for those of a designated team leader. Why do they make such sacrifices? Prize money is split among team members, giving the domestique incentive to help his team's leader. Plus, not all riders have the ability to win the overall race.

Drafting: When one cyclist allows another cyclist to set the pace and rides within six inches of the lead rider's rear wheel to cut wind resistance, sometimes up to 30 percent.

Echelon: A formation in which cyclists ride in a staggered line, each downwind and slightly behind the rider immediately ahead. The purpose is for cyclists to build greater speeds because of aerodynamics.

Feed zone: A designated area along the race course where support crews may hand food and drink to racers.

Flyer: A surprise atttack, usually done solo.

Fred: An inexperienced rider or someone who acts like one.

General classification: Overall standing in a stage race, abbreviated G.C.

Hammering: Riding all out. A road rider is refered to as a ``hammerhead.''

Honking: Hammering out of the saddle with one's hands on the brake-lever hoods.

Hook: To move one's rear wheel against the front wheel of a following bike. Occasionally, it is done with malice in an attempt to discourage a rider from drafting.

Jam: To ride at high speed.

Leadout: A sacrificial tactic in which one rider sprints with a teammate in tow, providing the initial acceleration for the teammate's sprint. Stronger sprinters pick up speed through drafting and are propelled through the slipstream as they dash for the finish line.

Noodle: To ride at an easy pace.

Paceline: A string of riders who alternately ride at the front and sit in for effective drafting in groups.

Peloton: The main field or ``pack'' or riders. At times in a race, there may be three to four groups of riders. The largest is considered the peloton.

Pull: Taking a turn at the front of the paceline or group.

Prime: (Pronounced ``preem.'') A sprint within a race for points or prizes.

Sitting in: Drafting.

Squirrel: An unstable or nervous rider unable to hold his line.

by CNB