Bicycle racing takes many shapes and forms, from events such as the Tour de France to youngsters racing at their local BMX track. Road racing is one popular form of bicycle racing, and the only requirement is that it takes place on paved roads. There are different types of road races, with criteriums, time trials and road racing being the primary ones.
The criterium race is held over a short track and involves multiple laps over the course. Everybody begins the race at the same time, and the number of laps is determined before the start. Most courses are less than a mile in length, although they may reach two miles. Most events will not last longer than 90 minutes.
Time trials are events where a rider or a team competes over a course in an effort to post the fastest time. Participants start the course individually, usually at timed intervals to cut down on the chances of riders impeding each other. Distances for time trails can vary greatly, with some races less than a mile to those nearly 50 miles long.
A circuit race is quite similar to the criterium in that it begins with a mass start and involves repetition over the course. The one difference is the length of the course, as circuit courses are longer, typically close to five miles in length.
A road race is another race with a group start, but doesn't involve multiple laps around a course. The race is simply from the starting line to the finish line. Road races can exceed distances over 100 miles.
A stage race is essentially a combination of some or all of the other types of road races and is held over a period of several days to two weeks. Each rider's times are totaled after each stage, and the rider with the lowest time is declared the winner. The Tour de France is the most popular stage race in the world.
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