What is a cycling stage race?

A cycling stage race is a multi-day event in which a given course is divided into several stages and multiple riders race over that course. The race is won by the person who has achieved the best time at the end of each stage, thus minimizing the time over all stages. In addition to the winner, there are other ratings that are taken into account, including ratings such as leading the overall classification, leading on the mountain, the sprint rating and leading the junior classification.

Stage races take place all over the world and are an important part of the professional cycling scene. The most famous stage races are the Tour de France, the Vuelta a España and the Giro d'Italia. These races are contested by the best cyclists in the world and offer spectacular landscapes and many exciting moments.