What is a stage race in cycling?
A stage race is a race held over several consecutive days, with a separate stage each day. The overall winner is the rider with the lowest total time across all stages.
Stage races range from two or three days to the three-week Grand Tours. One-week races, such as Paris–Nice, the Critérium du Dauphiné, the Tour de Suisse and the Tour de Romandie, are important targets in their own right and also a test for riders preparing for the Grand Tours.
Each stage has its own winner, but the main prize is the general classification. Stage races also award secondary classifications, such as points, mountains and best young rider, each with its own jersey.
Different stages suit different riders: flat stages for sprinters, hilly stages for puncheurs, mountain stages and time trials for GC riders. Teams build their line-up around their goals, usually a GC leader with support riders, sometimes with a sprinter as well.
Most stage races on the WorldTour calendar pay prize money for stage wins, daily leaders' jerseys and the final classifications. Our race pages show winners, prize money where published, and the estimated value of the startlist.