What is a lead-out in cycling?
A lead-out is the coordinated effort by a team to deliver its sprinter to the front of the race, at full speed and in the right position, for the final sprint.
A lead-out train is a line of teammates riding at increasing speed in the final kilometres of a flat stage. Each rider pulls as hard as they can for a stretch, then peels off. The last of them, the lead-out man or woman, launches the sprinter with a few hundred metres to go.
Timing is everything. Hit the front too early and the train runs out of riders before the line. Too late and the sprinter is boxed in. Good lead-outs also have to manage roundabouts, narrow roads, bends and rival trains fighting for the same space.
The best lead-out riders are specialists. They need a very high top speed, excellent positioning and the trust of their sprinter. Some former sprinters move into this role later in their careers, and a top lead-out rider can be as important to a team's sprint wins as the sprinter.
Lead-out riders rarely win themselves, so their value does not show up in results. On howtoturnpro.com you can see how teams spread their salary budget between sprinters and their support riders on each team page.