Cycling Road (Road Race)

A tactical marathon of 200+ km, the Road Race features a mass start where riders draft behind each other in the peloton, saving 30% of their energy, while breakaways and mountain climbs fracture the race, ending in a bunch sprint or a solo escape. The Individual Time Trial is the "race of truth" -- solo, against the clock, with aerodynamically optimized bikes and teardrop helmets -- and the gold goes to the rider who best manages energy, risk, and the dreaded "road rash" from crashes.