Tour de France Glossary
There are many terms that are unique to the Tour de France, or specific to cycling, that require this glossary to define them.
2019 Tour de France race car- Broom Wagon — the vehicle that follows the riders to pick up those who drop out.
- Domestiques — usually young "up-and-coming" riders who are required to do the dirty work for the team.
- Drafting — when riders shelter behind each other in the other riders slipstream, which is called drafting. When behind another rider, less effort is required to maintain the same pace.
- flamme rouge (also red kite) — the red pennant hanging from an archway at the start of the final kilometer
- Grand Départ — the first stage
- Hors-categorie — mountain peaks where the difficulty in climbing is beyond categorization
- Lanterne rouge — the rider ranked last in the general classification. This translates as "red lantern" (as that found at the end of a rail train).
- Peloton — the main group of riders during ordinary stages
- Prologue — The time trial which is also the first stage of the tour.
- Red kite (also flamme rouge) — the red pennant hanging from an archway at the start of the final kilometer
- Teté de la course — the course leader or leading group.
Related Pages
- Tour de France home page.
- Dictionary of Sporting Terms
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