While American interest in the Tour peaked during Lance Armstrong's unprecedented seven-year domination of the event, many still find this "European" sporting event mystifying in its particulars. Are cyclists riding individually or as part of a team? Why do most of the riders stay in one large group, while others try to leap away from the pack? And what's so important about that yellow jersey? Read on for some of the answers.
Stage
A stage is one single day of riding. The Tour de France is a "stage race" which is a multi-day affair as opposed to "classics" which are one-day races. Stages vary greatly in their characteristics and anticipating them is essential to victory in the Tour. A flat stage will favor heavier, more muscular riders and will often end with a furious dash to the finish line amongst the top sprinters, whereas particularly mountainous stages are the domain of lighter-bodied climbers. A stage victory in the Tour de France is a major accomplishment, but it is in fact possible – albeit rare – for a cyclist to win the overall race without winning any individual stages, as Greg Lemond did in 1990.
Peloton
This is the main group of riders moving down the road as distinguished from the single or multiple groups of riders who break away (and yes, they're called "breakaways") from the main pack over the course of a stage.