Watching athletes, famously torque pedals, very exciting. But the real fan is the one who knows not only shown by the camera or visible from the Stadium's Tribune. It is necessary to understand the "sources" of cycling, and in what he is.
History of origin
In the world
Cycling is incredibly young, if you compare it with mild athletics, running, swimming and adverse shooting. In essence, his story is the story of the "sports projectile". The intention to move on wheels, using only his own physical strength of rides, visited people already in antiquity. But only in the XIX century, the successes of mechanics and industry allowed us to create the necessary material base. In the first half of the last century, however, there were or incomparably heavy (over 40 kg) bicycles, or a little lighter "housing".
Those and others were given the same little for competitive races. The first reliably bicycles competition took place on the last spring day of 1868 in the Paris Saint-Clock Park. For races, "Kobobyryasi" were forced to use tens of kilometers. It was a real torment for riders.
So, the winner of the first highway races of Paris-Rouen overcame the distance of 120 km in 10 hours of 45 minutes.
According to modern standards, such speed is not particularly impressed by sports walkers. Soon, lighter and speed cars "Spiders" appeared. It was on this bike that was the first round trip at an average speed of 60 km per day. But "spiders" were only a compromise solution - they overturned from an insignificant push. Athletes very soon have refused them, which contributed Creation in 1885 by the hollow pneumatic tire.
Actually, Only from now on can count the history of cycling in a modern sense. After a few years, the division appears in the category of rides, and in the 1890s even the world championships are held. At the first Olympic Games of modern times, cycling was immediately among the disciplines. And then then competed in 5 types of races on the track and in the highway races. But there was no well-established Olympic bike program.
In Russia
The passion for two-wheeled transport touched almost immediately and our country. It is reliably aware that cyclists in Moscow for the first time officially competed on July 24, 1883. Envisaged Two distances - 1.605 m and 8,025 km. There were 3 foreign athletes among the racers. A year later, with a little, in September 1884, a race at the Marsfield took place.
Cyclists' societies in the 1890s organize the construction of the first tracks with solid coatings. The number of participants in races is gradually growing. In the next two decades, several high-profile names appear, which they knew even abroad. A serious problem, however, turned out to commercialize cycling. The leading firms "bought" the best athletes took control of the competition themselves.
The cycle shop seemed to have turned into a field of competitive struggle between various bike suppliers. It was all such an opinion that even outstanding cyclists. And by the beginning of the 1910s it could have the impression that cycling loses the features of sports at all. Everything has 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 is held. But genuine flourishing begins after the 1928 Garts. And on August 12, 1937, the first in domestic history of the multi-day race starts. It should be mentioned, however, that Success at the Olympic Competitions did not come immediately . The first attempt in 1952 was unsuccessful.
In the 1976 and 1980 Olympics and 1980, domestic athletes performed more adequately.
In 1988 he managed to conquer 4 gold medals. Next time, gold was received in 1996. However, today the fame was largely lost. Domestic athletes are rarely sent to foreign and international races. And government cycling financing is practically absent; It remains to hope that the current difficulties are only an intermediate moment before the new takeoff.
Classification of disciplines
Long-term history of cycling and a wide variety of types of bicycles, the tracks could not help but lead to the emergence of various categories of competitive disciplines. And this process is not over. It is likely that in the next few months or years a list of competitive programs will be replenished with new positions. That's why Enthusiasts and professionals can choose the direction that they most like.
The most important point to be considered: all or almost all types of cycling are divided into male and female competitions. Start a general analysis appropriate From the races on the highway. The essence is very simple: Cyclists are trying to drive along the usual road with solid coverage for the possibility of less. It is this discipline that the public attracts most of all, and it is her who willingly finance sponsors.
In the Olympic Games are customized and massive highways.
But on ordinary highways, there are also races that are not part of the OS official program. These include, in particular:
- Multi-day racing:
- criterium;
- Command Racing;
- Competitions in the speed of lifting uphill.
Of course, Such classes do not wear a purely amateur nature - professionals also participate in them, but the competition status is noticeably lower. An individual race implies a separate start. This means that athletes begin to move alternately, through pre-approved time intervals. In group (collective) racing start occurs simultaneously. The teams appear separate elements of the tactics of the passage of the distance, designed to help in the advance of rivals.
Criterium is customary called circular cycling on the city streets. After passing a certain number of circles, intermediate finishes are underway with the enrollment of points. Jumping are not practiced. Spectators are close as possible to athletes. Multi-day races take place in several stages, each of which includes a group competition and passage for a while.
Pretty popular and race on the oval form track with a slope. The length and width of the tracks is changing according to the chosen discipline. Cove the tracks with wood or concrete. In the sprint it is necessary to drive 2 or 3 times, and the acute struggle flares up in the last 200-300 m.
In the team sprint, short distances overcome already groups of 3 riders. Each of them passing to one circle, developing the maximum speed, and then dropping away. On tracks arrange both races for a while, and racing on points. The second option of the competition is credited to the OI program.
Scratch - Group check-in while starting: a maximum of 24 participants, ahead of more than a circle is equal to the automatic victory. Individual and group persecution is also distinguished. The group race of persecution is deservedly recognized as the most difficult variety of track competitions.
Such discipline like Cairin is invented in Japan. Participants start at the same time, and there is a motorcycle in front of them, which cannot be overtaken. He leaves the track when 2.5 circles remain until the finish. Then there is a classic speed race.
Mountainbike is a sport that implies the use of mountain bikes of the same name. This is a very extreme discipline passing strictly where there is no hint on the road surface.
You are not difficult to see a bike type Mountainbike - it is very often used by conventional city rider.
As for the cross-country motocross, this type of cycling is abbreviated by BMX. Tires on bicycles are wide, like Mountinbikes, but the diameter of the wheels is less, and the riders sit very low.
Cross Country has an abbreviated name XC. It is this discipline that One of the ideal options for cycling competitions. . It implies a number of trails on which there are descents from the elevation. Natural obstacles are actively used, artificial obstacles are added to them as needed. At the Olympic Games, cyclists compete in cross country.
Some riders prefer the Derte. This name received one of the styles of extreme riding. The track of a special sample is complemented by earthy tramplines. Through these springboards have to make jumps. Additional entertainment adds the accomplishment of tricks while in the air. However, just this item is not required for the rides.
Speed descent, it is downhill, is the extreme branch of the Mountainbay. Athletes go down the mountainside and try to develop the maximum speed. Downhill is a mandatory race with obstacles that are both natural and artificial character. Only the best riders with excellent equipment can participate in such races.
No less high demands on athletes, however, forerite. The name itself hints at the free combination of various elements borrowed from other styles. But it is precisely the ambiguity and complex composition of the discipline greatly comply with the passage of the route. The probability of injury in Freeride is very large.
Bicycles are necessarily used with strong frames and especially reliable disc brakes.
Sometimes you can meet and "parallel slalom", the creators of which were clearly inspired by ski racing. Two check-in participants simultaneously start moving down the parallel trajectories. They have:
- jump from springboard;
- pass on climbing sites;
- A sharp turns.
Biker Cross requires a wide route. Its length is about 250 m. Despite such a small length, the route of athletes is saturated with all sorts of obstacles.
Racing is one of the types of BMX. The reisers go along the highway with many reversals and springboard. The race can participate from 2 to 8 athletes. The winner is declared finishing first. It is not necessary to perform tricks, and they are not even welcome, because they interfere with the passage for speed.
Another BMX discipline - fleetland - directed, on the contrary, to perform the mass of tricks when driving along a flat surface. Spectators and experts often compare this cycling format with dancing.
Very great interest has been brief lately. There is already required not so much speed as general physical training and endurance. After all, this type of competition is referred to as a bicycleraphon. There are competitions when athletes go a few days, overcoming a total of a thousand kilometers. You can only be engaged in the highway, and the participants are assigned an official classification.
Large competition
The main part of the competition in highway cycling takes place in European countries in spring, summer or autumn (when the weather allows). Almost always try to lay the route so that it fit into the territory of one country. It is known:
- 14 large races in Belgium;
- 10 in France;
- 8 in Italy;
- 5 in Spain.
From 1 to 3 highway competitions during the season are organized in England, Switzerland, Holland and Germany. But it is worth noting the races passing in countries that are not at all associated with cycling. So, Norwegian cyclists in May participate in the "Tour of Firopds", and in August - in the "Arctic Race". August is also accompanied by a "tour of Denmark" and "Poland Tour". For one of the April weeks, Turkey Tour.
Weekly competitions are organized in May in California and August in Colorado. One-day Grand Prix takes place in September in Quebec and in Montreal. When winter comes in regions of moderate climate, cyclists are sent to compete in Australia, Emirates, Malaysia or Oman. The main races of the planet, not counting the Olympic, recognized as a global tour, uniting 28 more private races. They do not pass only in Africa, South America and Antarctica.
In the world tour, which continues 52 weeks, those teams who agree to compete in all races of the season should participate. Traditionally, the Australian "Tour Down Ander" is considered the starting point. And he ends with the World Cup. In total, no more than 18 teams are taken to participate. In each of them there may be no more than 30 participants whose roles during the race are strictly distributed in advance.
The world tour is a continuation of that cycling, which came into decay at the beginning of the last century. In fact, not only rises, but also sponsors (bicycles manufacturers) compete in it. All teams go to Shimano, Sram, Campagnolo technique. Use the bikes of other brands is strictly prohibited by the rules. At the same time, bicycles are also classified by types of races.
Inside the world tour, it is customary to allocate the three most prestigious stages (Grand Tours):
- Tour de french;
- Giro Italy;
- Vuelta Spain.
Slightly inferior on the status of such races like:
- Milan San Remo;
- Tour of Flanders;
- Paris-Rube;
- Liege Bastogne Liege;
- Lombardy.
Lower level athletes are usually competed in:
- Euroture;
- Pan American highway championship;
- asian championship;
- Local races of smaller scale.
Famous cyclists
Attention and respect deserved Alberto Velasco. He was originally a professional athlete. In 2004, 22-year-old Velasco announced that his brain was amazed by aneurysm. But the next few years the cyclist hovered brilliant victories. Even doping scandal did not break Velasco; Returning to a big sport after disqualification, he stopped his career only in 2017.
Another famous Spaniard cyclist - Joamy Rodriguez - noted not only by many years of participation in the Russian team. He stably wins all mountain races. And in one-day competition difficult to find equal Belgian Phillip Gilbera.
He repeatedly participated in the most prestigious tours and almost always overlooked.
From our compatriots should pay attention to Denis Smolsov, Which, however, stands for the Italian team. Menshov once managed to get all the favorites in Tour de France.
But even more admiration causes Olga Slyusarev That won 6 times in a row at the World Cup and 5 times became the strongest cyclist of Europe. On the victory in the World Cup and the rank of the Master of Sports Against this background, to mention somehow awkwardly. But the legendary once reputation Lance Armstrong It was irrevocably wrapped in 2012, when an athlete confirmed the fact of using stimulants.
In order not to finish on a sad note, it is worth mentioning several more outstanding cyclists:
- Fabian Kanchellar;
- Victor Kapitonov;
- Evans Chada;
- Miguel Induine;
- Jacques intercutyl;
- Eddie Max.
Cycling today
Nowadays, professional class bicycles, like many other industrial goods, are produced mainly in China. Most of the most amateur cyclists in relation to the entire population are in Holland. There, the bike has over 99% of adult inhabitants. If you repel from the popularity of cycling, then the rating will be like this:
- Liege-Bastogne Liege - 247 cyclists;
- Tour de France - 218 participants;
- Vuelta Spain is also 218 participants;
- Milan-San Remo - 200 rides;
- Told Flanders - 199 athletes;
- Paris-Rube - 198 Riding;
- Lombardy - 168 rides;
- Giro Italy - 127 athletes.
Interesting Facts
The largest and most significant competitions do not always cause the highest voltage from eminent participants. Many of them cannot donate emotions in principle, while others are experiencing when they compete in "their" cities. And there is one good reason - Despite the apparent grace, cycling is one of the most traumatic directions.
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 inferior to weightlifting, football and sports gymnastics.
It is no less curious that most of the winners of prestigious tours is unlikely to be able to repair their transport. The athletes are concentrated entirely on the control of the bike, and technical works other than those needed during the training process are trusted to mechanics. And the unloading days of professional cyclists is much easier than lovers. In the conditions of a tense competitive schedule, excessive diet rigidity only created an additional problem.
Of all non-alcoholic beverages, the overwhelming majority of cyclists give preference to coffee.
Almost all athletes except participating in the world tour, rarely boast financial well-being. Many races ends or symbolic premiums, or do not have encouraging funds at all. But at the same time athletes eat a lot, because energy consumption is extremely great. Almost all competitions, except for one-day trips, grades of the Grand Tour and other single exceptions, lasts a maximum of 5 or 6 hours.
That's why Training in cycling during the day continues approximately the same.
Cycling secrets you can find out by looking at the video below.