What is the peloton in cycling?
The peloton is the main group of riders in a road race. The word is French and originally meant "little ball" or "platoon".
Riding in the peloton saves a lot of energy. Riders in the middle of a large group, sheltered from the wind, need far less power than a rider alone at the same speed. That simple fact shapes almost every tactic in road racing: breakaways, chases, lead-outs and echelons all come from the advantage of riding in a group.
The peloton has its own unwritten rules. Riders usually do not attack the race leader while they are stopped for a natural break or after a crash, and experienced riders are expected to keep the group safe in dangerous sections. These conventions are not always respected, and arguments about them are part of the sport.
Position in the peloton matters. Teams fight to keep their leaders near the front before climbs, cobbles and narrow roads, where crashes and splits are most likely.
The word is also used more broadly for the professional riders as a group, as in "the women's peloton" or "the best-paid riders in the peloton". Our riders page lists every rider in our database with an estimated salary or reported figure.