Here are 20 cycling terms that you’ll need to know to become a knowledgeable fan of the Tour of Missouri:

Attack — A sudden acceleration to move ahead of another rider or group of riders.

Bonk — Total exhaustion caused by lack of sufficient food during a long race or ride.

Bonus sprints — Several intermediate points during the race at which bonus points are given to the first three riders that cross the line. These sprints are a “race within a race” during each stage.

Break/breakaway — A rider or group of riders that has left the main group behind.

Domestique — A team rider who will sacrifice his individual performance to help a designated teammate. Duties can include giving up one’s bike for another rider, supplying refreshments to teammates and catching breakaway riders.

Draft — To ride closely behind another racer, saving energy by using that racer as a wind break.

Drop/dropped — When a rider has been passed by another, or left behind.

Feed zone — A designated area along the route where riders can grab “musette bags” filled with food and drinks as they ride by. There is an unwritten rule that riders should not attack the field while the riders are going through the feed zone.

Field sprint — Mass sprint at the finish among the main group of riders in a road race.

General classification (G.C.) — The overall leader board in the race, representing each rider’s total cumulative time in the race.

Hammer — To ride hard. Also, to “put the hammer down.”

KOM — King of the Mountain. The award for the best climber.

Lead out — To intentionally sacrifice one’s chances in order to create a windbreak, creating an opening for a rider behind. A racing tactic whereby one rider races at high speed to give a head start to the rider on his/her wheel.

Off the back — When a rider or riders can not keep pace with the main group and lag behind.

Off the front — When a rider takes part in a breakaway.

Paceline — A string of riders that moves at high speed, with each individual taking turns, alternatively setting the pace and riding in the draft of others. Also known as a Train.

Peloton — The main field, or pack, of riders in the race.

Slipstream — The area of least wind resistance behind a rider.

Stage race — A bike race held over successive days, with a different course each day. The rider with the lowest total time (or accumulated points) after completion of all the stages wins the overall race. The Tour of Missouri is a stage race.

Team leader — The rider for whom the team rides in order for the leader to win a stage or race.

Time trial — A race in which riders start individually and race against the clock. One of the stages of the Tour of Missouri is a time trial.

Source: www.dailypeloton.com