All about cycling

Watching athletes dashing pedaling is very exciting. But a real fan is one who knows not only what is shown by television cameras or seen from the stands of the stadium. It is imperative to understand the "origins" of cycling, and what it is.

Cycling is incredibly young when compared to athletics, running, swimming and competitive shooting. In fact, its history is the history of the "sports equipment" itself. The intention to move on wheels, using only their own physical strength of riders, visited people already in ancient times. But only in the 19th century, the successes of mechanics and industry made it possible to create the necessary material base. In the first half of the century before last, however, there were either incomparably heavy (over 40 kg) bicycles, or slightly lighter "bone shakers".

Both were equally unsuitable for competitive races. The first reliably known cycling competition took place on the last spring day of 1868 in a park in the Saint-Cloud district of Paris. For races, they were forced to use "bone shakers" and drove tens of kilometers on them. It was a real torment for the riders.

By modern standards, this speed would not particularly impress sports walkers. Soon there were lighter and faster machines "spiders". It was on such a bike that the first round the world trip was made at an average speed of 60 km per day. But the "spiders" were only a compromise solution - they overturned from an insignificant push.Athletes very soon abandoned them, which contributed to the creation of a hollow pneumatic tire in 1885.

Actually, only from this moment can we count the history of cycling in the modern sense. A few years later, a division into riders' categories appeared, and even world championships were held in the 1890s. At the first Olympic Games of our time, cycling immediately became one of the disciplines. And even then they competed in 5 types of races on the track and in road races. But there was no established Olympic cycling program for a very long time.

The passion for two-wheeled transport touched our country almost immediately. It is reliably known that for the first time cyclists officially competed in Moscow on July 24, 1883. It was envisaged two distances - 1.605 m and 8.025 km. Among the riders were 3 foreign athletes. And a little over a year later, in September 1884, a race took place on the Champ de Mars.

Cyclists' societies organize the construction of the first paved tracks in the 1890s. The number of participants in the races is also gradually growing. In the next two decades, several big names appeared that were known even abroad. The commercialization of cycling has proved to be a major challenge. Leading firms "bought" the best athletes, took control of the competitions themselves.

The track cycle seemed to have changed from a competition in skill to a field of competition between various bike suppliers. Even outstanding cyclists had this opinion. And by the beginning of the 1910s, the impression was that cycling was losing the features of a sport in general. Everything changed dramatically in the 1920s, when large-scale competitions began again. They took place in the same two capitals as before, but new regions were added: Siberia, Ukraine.

Already in 1923, the first national championship was held. But the real flourishing begins after the 1928 Olympics. And on August 12, 1937, the first multi-day race in Russian history starts. It should be mentioned, however, that success in Olympic competitions did not come immediately... The first attempt in 1952 was unsuccessful.

In 1988 he managed to win 4 gold medals. The next time gold was received in 1996. However, today the former glory has largely been lost. Domestic athletes rarely go to foreign and international races. And there is practically no government funding for cycling; it remains to be hoped that the current difficulties are only an intermediate moment before a new take-off.

A long history of cycling and a wide variety of types of bicycles and tracks could not but lead to the emergence of a variety of categories of competitive disciplines. And this process is not over. It is likely that new positions will be added to the list of competitive programs in the next few months or years. That's why enthusiasts and professionals can choose the direction that they like best.

The most important point to consider: all or almost all types of cycling are additionally divided into men's and women's competitions. It is appropriate to start a general analysis from racing on the highway. The gist is very simple: cyclists try to travel on a regular paved road in the shortest possible time. It is this discipline that attracts the attention of the public most of all, and it is it that sponsors willingly finance it.

But on ordinary highways, races are also organized that are not included in the official program of the Olympic Games. These include, in particular:

• multi-day races:
• criterium;
• team racing;
• uphill speed competition.

Of course such classes are not purely amateurish - professionals also participate in them, but the status of the competition is noticeably lower. The individual race involves a split start. This means that the athletes start moving one by one, at predetermined intervals. In a group (collective) race, the start occurs simultaneously. Teams have separate elements of tactics for passing the distance, designed to help them stay ahead of their rivals.

The criterion is usually called circular cycling on city streets. After passing a certain number of laps, intermediate finishes are passed with the crediting of points. Jumping is not practiced. The audience is as close as possible to the athletes. The multi-day races take place in several stages, each of which includes a group competition and a time trial.

Races on an oval track with an incline are also quite popular. The length and width of the tracks varies according to the chosen discipline. Cover the tracks with wood or concrete. In the sprint, you need to drive 2 or 3 laps, and a bitter struggle flares up in the last 200-300 m.

In the team sprint, short distances are covered by groups of 3 riders. Each of them goes through one circle, developing maximum speed, and then eliminates. Both time trial and point races are organized on the tracks. The second version of the competition is enrolled in the OI program.

Scratch - a group race with a simultaneous start: maximum 24 participants, more than a lap ahead is equivalent to an automatic victory. There are also individual and group pursuits. The group pursuit is deservedly recognized as the most difficult type of track competition.

A discipline like keirin originated in Japan. Participants start at the same time, and a motorcycle rides in front of them, which cannot be overtaken. He leaves the track when 2.5 laps remain to the finish line. Then comes the classic speed race.

Mountain biking is a sport that involves the use of mountain bikes of the same name. This is a very extreme discipline, taking place strictly where there is not even a hint of road surface.

When it comes to cross-country motocross, this type of cycling is abbreviated as BMX. The tires on the bikes are wide, like on mountain bikes, but the wheel diameter is smaller and the riders sit quite low.

XC is abbreviated as XC. It is this discipline that is considered one of the ideal cycling competitions... It implies a series of trails with hillside slopes. Natural barriers are actively used, and artificial barriers are added to them as needed. At the Olympic Games, cyclists also compete in cross-country.

Some riders prefer dirt. This name was given to one of the extreme skiing styles. The special track is complemented by earthen jumps. You have to jump over these trampolines. Performing tricks while in the air adds additional entertainment. However, this element is not required for riders.

Downhill, also known as downhill, is the extreme branch of mountain biking. Athletes drive downhill and try to reach their maximum speed. Downhill is necessarily an obstacle course that is both natural and artificial. Only the very best riders with superior equipment can compete in these races.

Freeride also makes no less high demands on athletes. The name itself alludes to the free combination of a variety of elements borrowed from other styles. But it is the ambiguity and complex composition of the discipline that make it very difficult to complete the route. The likelihood of injury in freeriding is very high.

Sometimes you can also find "parallel slalom", the creators of which were clearly inspired by cross-country skiing. Two participants of the race simultaneously begin to move downward along parallel trajectories. They have to:

• jump from trampolines;
• pass along steep sections;
• make sharp turns.

Biker cross requires a wide track. Its length is about 250 m. Despite such a short length, the route of the athletes is full of all kinds of obstacles.

Racing is a type of BMX. Racers ride on a track with many turns and jumps. The race can be attended by 2 to 8 athletes. The first finishers are announced as the winner. There is no need to perform tricks, and they are not even welcomed, since they interfere with the passage of speed.

Another BMX discipline - flatland - is aimed, on the contrary, at performing a lot of tricks when driving on a flat surface. Spectators and experts alike often compare this cycling format to dancing.

Brevet has attracted a lot of interest lately. It already requires not so much speed as general physical fitness and endurance. After all, this type of competition is also called a bicycle marathon. There are competitions when athletes travel for several days, covering a total of thousands of kilometers. Brevet can only be practiced on the highway and participants are assigned an official classification.

The main part of road cycling competitions takes place in European countries in spring, summer or autumn (when the weather permits). Almost always, they try to plot the route so that it fits into the territory of one country. It is known:

• 14 major races in Belgium;
• 10 in France;
• 8 in Italy;
• 5 in Spain.

From 1 to 3 road events during the season are organized in England, Switzerland, Holland and Germany. But it is worth noting the races taking place in countries that are not at all associated with cycling. Thus, Norwegian cyclists participate in the Fjord Tour in May and in the Arctic Race in August. August is also accompanied by the Tour of Denmark and the Tour of Poland. During one of the April weeks there is a "Tour of Turkey".

Weekly competitions are held in May in California and in August in Colorado. One-day Grand Prix takes place in September in Quebec and Montreal. When winter sets in in temperate regions, cyclists go to compete in Australia, the Emirates, Malaysia or Oman. The main races of the planet, not counting the Olympic ones, are recognized as the World Tour, which unites 28 more private races. They do not take place only in Africa, South America and Antarctica.

The 52-week World Tour must include teams that agree to compete in all heats of the season. Traditionally, the Australian Tour Down Under is considered the starting point. And it ends with the world championship. In total, no more than 18 teams are selected for participation. Each of them can have no more than 30 participants, whose roles during the race are strictly assigned in advance.

The World Tour is a continuation of the kind of cycling that fell into disrepair at the beginning of the last century. In fact, not only riders compete in it, but also sponsors (bicycle manufacturers). All teams ride on Shimano, SRAM, Campagnolo vehicles. Using bikes from other brands is strictly prohibited by the rules. At the same time, bicycles are also classified according to the type of race.

Within the World Tour, it is customary to distinguish three most prestigious stages (Grand Tours):

• Tour de France;
• Giro Italy;
• Vuelta Spain.

The following races are slightly inferior in status:

• Milan-San Remo;
• Flanders Tour;
• Paris-Roubaix;
• Liege-Bastogne-Liege;
• Lombardy.

Lower level athletes usually compete in:

• Eurotrip;
• Pan American Highway Championship;
• Asian Championship;
• local races on a smaller scale.

Deserved attention and respect Alberto Velasco. He was originally a professional athlete. In 2004, 22-year-old Velasco was told that his brain was affected by an aneurysm. But for the next few years, the cyclist won brilliant victories. Even the doping scandal did not break Velasco; returning to the big sport after being disqualified, he stopped his career only in 2017.

Another famous Spanish cyclist - Joaquim Rodriguez - noted not only for many years of participation in the Russian team. He consistently wins all mountain races. And in one-day competitions, it is difficult to find equal to the Belgian Philippe Gilbert.

Of our compatriots, it is worth paying attention to Denis Menshov, who, however, plays for the Italian team. Menshov once managed to get ahead of all the favorites in the Tour de France.

But it causes even more admiration Olga Slyusareva, who won the World Championship 6 times in a row and became the strongest cyclist in Europe 5 times. Against this background, it is somehow embarrassing to even mention the victory in the World Cup and the title of master of sports. And here is the legendary once reputation Lance Armstrong was irrevocably collapsed in 2012 when an athlete confirmed the use of stimulants.

In order not to end on a sad note, a few more outstanding cyclists are worth mentioning:

• Fabian Cancellara;
• Victor Kapitonov;
• Evans Kadel;
• Miguel Indurain;
• Jacques Anquetil;
• Eddie Merckx.

These days, professional bicycles, like many other industrial products, are made primarily in China. The largest number of amateur cyclists in relation to the entire population is in Holland. Over 99% of adults have a bike there. If we start from the popularity of cycling, then the rating will be as follows:

• Liege-Bastogne-Liege - 247 cyclists;
• Tour de France - 218 participants;
• Vuelta Spain - also 218 participants;
• Milan-San Remo - 200 riders;
• Tour of Flanders - 199 athletes;
• Paris-Roubaix - 198 riders;
• Lombardy - 168 riders;
• Giro Italia - 127 athletes.

The largest and most significant competitions do not always cause the greatest tension among eminent participants. Many of them cannot give up their emotions in principle, while others worry when they compete in "their" cities. And there is one good reason - Despite its seeming grace, cycling is one of the most traumatic areas.

In many lists of dangerous sports, he appears almost on a par with diving, rafting, mountaineering and hockey. Among the Olympic disciplines, cycling is among the ten most dangerous, ahead of tennis and triathlon, but behind weightlifting, football and artistic gymnastics.

Equally curious, most of the winners of prestigious tours are unlikely to be able to fix their vehicles. Athletes concentrate entirely on handling the bike, and technical work, in addition to those necessary in the training process, is entrusted to the mechanics. And the fasting days of professional cyclists are much easier than those of amateurs. In a busy competitive schedule, excessive dietary harshness would only create an additional problem.

Almost all athletes, except for those participating in the World Tour, rarely boast of financial well-being. Many races either end with symbolic prizes, or have no incentive funds at all. But at the same time, athletes eat a lot, because the energy consumption is extremely high. Almost all competitions, except for one-day trips, stages of the Grand Tour and other single exceptions, last a maximum of 5 or 6 hours.

That's why cycling training lasts about the same during the day.

You can learn the secrets of cycling by watching the video below.