The Races
In time trials, competitors race against the clock to record the fastest time. In this all-out race, a cyclist is said to have "hit the wall" when his or her legs can no longer pedal at a rapid pace.

Match sprints are three laps, with riders seeded on the basis of a 200-meter time trial. In pursuit races, two cyclists or teams of cyclists start off on opposite sides of the track. If one cyclist, or team, catches the other, the race is over. Otherwise, the winner is the first one to cross the finish line. Points races can be the most fun to watch but are among the most difficult to understand. The cyclist who has the most points usually wins; however, a rider can also win if he "laps the field" (goes ahead of everyone else by a lap) and maintains his advantage throughout the race regardless of his total points.

Road races are mass start events that take place on public roads. Endurance is the main factor in road racing. Riding in the "slipstream," the current of air created by the leader, decreases wind resistance and can cut a cyclist's effort by as much as 20 percent. This is also called "drafting" and can be utilized in all cycling events.

Mountain bike racing features an off-road course and a downhill event.

News, History, and Fast Facts

Learn the latest cycling news or find out about the sport's Olympic beginnings from CBS Sportline's Olympics 2000 site. Get primed on cycling news, history, athletes, and rules from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation site. Did you know that the U.S. cycling team made its most successful showing at the 1996 Games in Atlanta? Find out more about U.S. Olympic cycling history by visiting the USOC site. For fans who want a closer look at individual cycling events, the official Sydney 2000 site offers analyses and rules of track cycling, road cycling, and mountain biking. For easy explanations about cycling, visit the Sydney 2000 Kids Web site. Propelled by Pedals is a kids site focusing safety and bicycling basics, along with histories and interviews with the pros. For the most comprehensive news on national and international cycling, click on the International Cycling Union's page or the official site of U.S.A. Cycling.

All About Athletes

Cycling trivia buffs - check out cycling's gold medal winners. Follow personal accounts of future and current Olympians on NBCOlympics.com's site. Get the inside story on Olympian Lance Armstrong by viewing his homepage, which captures his recent Tour de France experience using stunning video journals.

General Sports Links
Olympians will compete in dozens of sports this summer. Even though Gateway to the Summer Games can't feature them all, you can learn about each and every one by visiting the sites listed below.

• Griffin Publishing Group's Official Olympic Sports page
  For information straight from the source, click on a sport to connect to its organization's official Web site.
• Australian Broadcasting Corporation News
  This site provides excellent information about Olympic sports and their rules. It also sizes up the best international competitors.
• CBS Sportsline's Olympics 2000
  Get top news stories and in-depth features about every sport.
• CCN/SI
  In addition to news on every sport, this site contains athlete diaries.
• NBCOlympics.com
  Select a sport to study or hear firsthand from an athlete who plays it.
• Sydney 2000
  The official site of the Sydney Olympics covers the events in detail.
• Sydney 2000 Kids' Guide to Olympic Sports
  Visit the Sportzone for sports-related information written especially for young students.
• USOC
  The United States Olympic Committee site includes the rules and history of events as well as athlete bios, diaries, and chats.
• Sydney 2000 Fans
  This unofficial site provides basic description of events and useful links to more information.

Portions of the above text were excerpted from Share the Olympic Dream--Volume II.
(c) 1995 by Griffin Publishing Group/United States Olympic Committee.

For information on purchasing Griffin materials, please visit the Griffin Publishing Group Web site at http://www.griffinpublishing.com.