Road Bicycle Racing is a type of cycling where individuals or teams race bicycles on paved roads, across long distances.

Road bicycle racing is the sport of racing bicycles over long, flat surfaces. Lightweight bicycles with thin tires are used to reach maximum speeds. Strategy consists of teams of riders forming lines and using drafting. The winner of the race is the rider who finishes the race first (single-day), or the rider with the lowest cumulative score at the end of multiple stages (stage race).

Finish a race in the least amount of time.

Races begin with all riders in a pack, at the starting line. Riders aren't allowed to touch other riders during racing. The winner of the race is the rider who finishes the race first (single-day), or the rider with the lowest cumulative score at the end of multiple stages (stage race).

The first road bicycle race was held in a Paris park in 1868. Sponsored by the former royal family of France, the race was held in reaction to the excitement surrounding the newly invented bicycle. The success of the race led to the running of the first ever long-distance race, stretching from Paris to Rouen. In 1900, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) was established as a governing body for all international competition. That same year, road racing was featured as an Olympic event. Today bicycle road racing is extremely popular throughout the world, especially in the western European countries.

Bicycle
Helmet

Road bicycle racing isn't an overly dangerous sport. Injury can occur though, and is mostly a result of riders falling off their bikes.

Strong legs and an even stronger respiratory system are necessary for success in road racing. These can be obtained through massive amounts of aerobic exercise and lower body weight training.

Drafting - riding directly behind another rider to benefit from reduced wind resistance

Grand Tour - trio of road races, which includes the Giro d'Italia, Vuelta a Espana and Tour de France

Single-Day Race - short race where the first rider to cross the finish line is declared the winner

Stage Race - multi-day event consisting of multiple races, or stages; the rider with the lowest cumulative time of completion of all stages is the winner

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_bicycle_racing