Descriptive Parameters and Its Hysteresis of the Group Separation and Recombination in Bicycle Points Races: Leader’s Velocity and Speed Difference between Leader and Main Group

Abstract

This study examined the descriptive parameters for separation and recombination processes in a cycling points race. The candidate descriptive parameters were the speed of the leading cyclist and the main group and the difference between their time and speed. We focused on the transition between the four states of peloton configuration (dense state, stretched state, divided state, and escape and dense state) defined by previous studies that occur during the points race. As a result, it was found that the distribution of the leader’s velocity and the speed difference significantly differed when the groups were separated and recombined compared to when the state did not change. It was also examined whether the separation and recombination processes had a phenomenon such as a hysteresis depending on the present state. Regarding the leader velocity and the speed difference between the leader and the main group, the state of the group was not uniquely determined by the speed difference, and the influence of the speed difference for separation or recombination depended on the state; that is, there was asymmetry in separation and recombination in a points race. These suggest that the cyclists need the ability to choose an appropriate speed and distance from other cyclists depending on the situation.