Road bike races are held on paved roads. Athletes use road bikes. Such competitions have been included in the Summer Olympics program since 1896.
Road cycling dates back to 1868. The first major cycling race was held in 1869 at the Paris-Rouen distance. Then the athletes covered 120 km. The average speed of its winner, Moore from England, reached 11 km / h. Further, in 1892, a large tour of Liege - Bastogne - Liege was organized. This sport is especially popular in European countries.
Road cycling competitions are divided into group and individual competitions. In a group race, the athlete who crosses the finish line first is the winner. At the start, participants are assigned according to the UCI (International Cycling Union) ranking. Men cover a distance of 239 km, while women compete on a 120 km track. Team members have the right to provide repair assistance to their partners.
The riders need to properly divide the roles in the group. Competent tactics helps to roll out an athlete-leader and eliminate the gaps of rivals.
For several years, the program of the Olympic Summer Games included a team road race at a distance of 100 km. At the same time, the team had 4 riders, and the start was made with an interval of 3 minutes. It was considered that the team came to the finish line if at least 3 members of the group covered the distance, and the time was recorded by the third member of the team crossing the finish line.
If in a group race all athletes start at the same time, then in an individual race they start the competition with an interval of one and a half minutes. The length of the track for the race is much shorter. For men it is 46.8 km, and for women - 31.2 km. During an individual cycling race, competitors cannot help their fellow competitors. In addition, the aerodynamic shadow of the ahead cyclist cannot be used as an advantage.
Racing bicycles are made from light steel, aluminum, titanium, and carbon fiber. All are equipped with pneumatic tires, narrow seats, brakes and speed switches. The length of the bike can be 2 m maximum, and its width is no more than 50 cm. The weight of the equipment usually ranges from 8 kg to 10 kg.
The mandatory equipment for road cycling participants includes a helmet that can protect them from head injuries. In order to avoid accidents, a rule has been introduced according to which riders must maintain a distance of at least 2 m between each other.
