How to Talk the Talk at the Philadelphia Cycling Classic
- Philadelphia Cycling Classic
- Jun 30
- 4 min read
Get ready for race day on Sunday, August 30, at the Philadelphia Cycling Classic presented by AmeriGas by getting up to speed on all the cycling lingo you’ll need to take in the action. Whether you’re lining up along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, attending the two-day Fan Fest, claiming your spot at Lemon Hill, or cheering the riders as they climb the Manayunk Wall, understanding the language will make every attack, sprint, and breakaway all the more engaging.
Let’s start with a dramatic moment. If you see a rider suddenly bolt away from the main group, that’s called an attack. This can be anywhere on the course, but the Manayunk Wall provides a primary location for seeing a rider launch off the front of the peloton (field or bunch). It’s a bold acceleration meant to surprise the peloton and create separation. Meanwhile, their teammates may be attempting to slow the pace by blocking or disrupting the chase.
Drafting means riding closely behind another rider to use their slipstream, the pocket of reduced wind resistance created behind a moving rider. This can reduce aerodynamic drag by up to about 25%, helping riders conserve energy. Smart, right?
When riders rotate their position at the front, this is called a paceline. Taking a turn at the front keeps the pace high, and by rotating smoothly, it keeps the speed consistent. While cycling may seem like an individual sport, the truth is teamwork really makes the dream work.
Now here’s when things get exciting. When a rider or small group manages to separate themselves ahead of the peloton, they establish a breakaway. To counter this, the chasers behind do their best to bridge the gap, accelerating hard to reconnect. It becomes an exhilarating pursuit. Will they catch up? Will the breakaway hold on?
First across the finish line is the ultimate goal, but there are other battles within the race, including the King and Queen of the Mountain (KOM & QOM) honors taking place at the Mannayunk Wall, while the Sprint Competition unfolds at Kelly Drive and East Falls. These secondary competitions, or the race within the race, reward the strongest climbers and sprinters as they accumulate points each time they pass designated markers along the circuit.
It’s time to talk about roles. The Directeur Sportif calls the shots as the team’s manager, guiding strategy from the team car. In a similar fashion, the team may designate one or two riders capable of winning and in support roles, designate a domestique to support the team leader(s). This rider will help the team leader(s) by pacing, chasing, blocking, and even fetching food and drink from the team car.
In the final kick, watch for the lead-out, when a teammate ramps up the pace to launch their sprinter into position, setting up a high-speed, all-out sprint to the finish line.
Now you know how to talk like a cycling pro! Take a look at the full list of definitions below to get ready for race day on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
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Below is a list of the most common terms used in the sport of cycling.
Attack: A sudden attempt to get away from a rider or group of riders.
Blocking: When a rider impedes the progress of another rider, usually done as part of a team strategy to slow down the main field when a team member is ahead in a breakaway.
Bonk: When a rider completely runs out of energy.
Breakaway: A rider or group of riders who has separated themselves ahead of the main pack.
Bridge the Gap: When a rider or group of riders attempt to advance from a group of riders to one further ahead.
Caravan: The line of cars which typically follows a road race; includes team cars, race officials, media, medical, VIP and neutral support vehicles.
Chasers: Riders who are attempting to advance to a rider or group of riders ahead.
Commissaire: The licensed referee or umpire assigned to an event by the cycling federation.
Director Sportif: The traditional name for the team manager.
Domestique: A rider who typically rides in support of a designated team leader.
Drafting: Riding in the slipstream of another rider ahead. A rider drafting off another generally expends 30% less energy.
Drop: To leave another rider or group of riders behind by attacking.
Feed Zone: A designated section on a road course where riders can receive food and water from their soigneur.
Feeding: When riders receive food and liquids throughout a race, usually from a team car that follows the race or a soigneur positioned in the feed zone.
Field: The main group of riders, also known as the pack, peloton or bunch.
Field Sprint: The final sprint between the main group of riders in a race, not always for first place.
Jump: A sudden acceleration, often at the start of a sprint.
Kick: The final burst of speed in a sprint.
Lead Out: A team-oriented move in which one rider begins a sprint to give a head start to a teammate riding in his draft.
Musette: A bag filled with food, water and energy drinks distributed to riders in a feed zone.
Neutral Support: Third-party vehicle and motorcycle support that provides repairs, spare wheels, or entire bikes to any racer experiencing an equipment failure.
Peloton: The main group of riders during a road race.
Pull: To take a turn at the front of a paceline and block the wind for other riders in the pack.
Pull Through: When a rider moves to the front of a paceline and takes his turn blocking the wind at the front.
Pull Off: When a rider moves to one side of a paceline to allow another rider to pull through.
Sitting In: When one rider refuses to take a pull and break the wind for a group in which he’s riding.
Soigneur: (pronounced swahn-yea) A French term for cycling’s equivalent of a trainer; a support staff member on a professional cycling team responsible for the welfare and care of the riders during a race, colloquially known as "swannies" .
Sprint: The sudden burst of speed before the race’s finish or an intermediate sprint point.
Take a Flyer: When a rider attacks the main pack and creates a solo breakaway.
