What does the term Palleton mean in Road Cycling?

Question

In Road Cycling, particularly recently the Olympics and the Tour De France, the term Palleton is referred to quite a bit. What exactly does the term mean?

Answer 1

Good question.  I'm a lay person who serves on a hospital board and the physicians on the board are constantly throwing around words I don't know.  Instead of pretending I know, I tell them I don't and ask them to explain the words to me.  The old saying is true: "He who asks a question is a fool for a moment.  He who never asks a question is a fool forever."

The literal translation of the French peloton is little ball, referring to the ball or main group of riders in a road race.  It was originally used to refer to a group or flock of birds flying together, and later to a platoon in military parlance.

Answer 2

It's the group of riders in a pack working together to save energy by drafting.  Working together they break away from the rest of the riders.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peloton

Answer 3

As other have said, the word is "peloton."  The literal translation from French is "platoon."

In bicycle racing, it refers to the main body of cyclists.  

Pelotons are formed because as speed increase more and more energy is required to overcome wind resistance.  By riding in a pack and drafting, cyclists can reduce wind resistance.  By sharing responsibility for breaking the wind at the front of the pack, the pack as a whole can go much faster than non-drafting riders.

In fact, one of the worst things that can happen in a bike race is to get dropped by the peloton.  Without the ability to draft, either your average speed drops or your power output must soar.  Either way, your race is going to end badly.

Hope this helps.

Answer 4

It's spelled peloton, and it is the main group of riders.