I was watching a mountain stage of the Tour de France with a friend of mine this summer. The TV commentators kept talking about the GC contenders and my friend had no idea what was going on.
If my friend is anything like you, you’re not alone. Cycling can be confusing – there are so many rules and regulations. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. In this article we will explain what GC is in cycling and how it affects running.
Understanding the GC in cycling is essential if you want to follow the race. This information will help make you a more informed fan – and who knows, maybe you’ll even start following professional cycling!
What is GC in cycling?
GC stands for General Classification, and it is the most important classification in a stage race. The rider who achieves the lowest cumulative time at the end of the race is the winner of the general classification.
Being first overall is a coveted position – ask any cyclist! This means you are the best all-around racer in the race and can win on any type of terrain.
The GC is important not only because it determines the winner of the race, but also because it determines the amount of prize money each runner will take home. The GC winner usually takes home the biggest share of the purse, so riders should try to target that ranking if they want to win big money.
What is a GC rider in cycling?
A GC rider is a rider who is focused on winning the overall classification in a stage race. A stage race is a multi-day event in which riders compete over multiple stages, with the overall winner being the rider with the lowest cumulative time across all stages.
GC runners generally have strong overall abilities and can stay among the front runners at all stages of the race. They also tend to be good at time trials, which is an important discipline in stage races.
GC riders usually start the race as one of the favorites to win, and they often play a major role in determining the final outcome of the race.
It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to succeed as a GC driver. Riders must be able to perform well in both short and long stages, and they must be very good climbers as well as good time trialists.
What color jersey does the leader of the General Classification wear?
There are three stage races that people usually think of when asking about the general classification.
The Tour de France is the most famous cycling race. It’s a three-week race around France and the overall leader wears a yellow jersey.
The Giro d’Italia is a three-week race around Italy and the leader of the Giro wears a pink jersey.
The Vuelta Espana is the last three-week race of the year, usually in August and the race leader wears a red jersey.
How do GC contenders train for victory?
When it comes to training for an overall victory, there are a few key elements that make all the difference.
First, GC runners must be prepared to run long distances at relatively high intensity. That means putting in some serious miles during their workouts, as well as doing specific workouts that target their endurance and aerobic capacity. Professional cyclists can easily ride 20,000 miles a year.
Another important aspect of training for an overall victory is being able to handle sustained climbs. This means not only being able to climb a hill at a good pace, but also being able to maintain that pace for an extended period of time. To achieve this, it often helps to do interval training sessions on hills or inclines.
Climbs are usually where stage races are won or lost, as it is the easiest way to gain or lose time against their opponents.
Finally, it’s also important to be able to sprint at the end of a race when everything is on the line. This means doing high-intensity interval training (HIIT) in the workouts leading up to the event.
Maybe if your training is getting stale you can incorporate some of these options to spice things up a bit?
What factors influence GC ranking?
The most important factor in the general classification is the time each rider takes to complete the stage.
Another factor is the seconds bonus for a top 3 finish during a stage. Usually, the winner of a stage receives a 10 second bonus, the second place winner receives a 6 second bonus, and the third place winner receives a 4 second bonus.
A few seconds may not seem like a lot, but 3 week races have been won or lost with seconds between first and second place, so usually the pros are sprinting for every second!
Related Questions
What is the difference between a prologue and a time trial?
One of the main differences between a prologue and a time trial is that a prologue generally takes place over a much shorter distance than a time trial. This means that riders in a prologue tend to give their all from the start, whereas in a time trial they may adopt a more cautious pace in order to maintain their effort over a longer distance.
Another key difference is that a prologue takes place as part of a stage race, whereas a time trial can be a standalone event. This means that riders in a prologue need to be aware of the consequences of pushing hard and potentially blowing out later in the stage race, whereas riders in a time trial who does not part of a stage race can simply concentrate on their race. almost as much as possible without having to worry about energy savings.
The largest stage races usually include at least one or two individual time trial stages.
What is the difference between a road race and a criterium?
A road race is a race on paved roads over a long distance. One criterion is a short, fast race on a closed circuit.
A road race can cover thousands of miles over several weeks of racing with all kinds of different stages. A criterion is generally a flat course with several laps. These tours usually last a mile or less.
The criteria are also quickly becoming more popular.
A criterion can also be an exhibition race where the GC winners of a stage race are invited to simply show off their driving skills after winning a prestigious stage race.
Conclusion
The GC or General Classification is the most prestigious title to win in road cycling. It is based on the lowest overall time in a stage race. This means that a GC rider must be an all-round rider capable of being the best in time trials as well as difficult mountain stages.
There are other ranking jerseys to earn in a race like the points jersey and the king of the mountains jersey, but they are not as important as the GC jersey.
I hope my explanation helped you as much as my friend who found it much easier to follow TV commentators after hearing it.
Falk Baumann
Falk Baumann is the founder of Prodify Cycling. Falk has been riding and racing mountain bikes and road bikes since he was very young. He started Prodify Cycling to attract more people to the sport and help introduce them to the most fun sport there is.