The two most common types of competitions are mass start events, in which all of the riders begin their race at the same time (sometimes with a handicap) and compete to be the first to reach a predetermined finish point, and time trials, in which individual riders or teams compete against the clock to complete a course.
In the world of competitive sports, bike race is a test of speed in which athletes compete against one another to see who can finish a job in the least amount of time. This usually includes traveling a certain distance, but it can also refer to any other activity that requires speed in order to accomplish a particular purpose.
Road races typically vary from 30 to 200 miles in distance and are divided into categories ranging from five (for beginner racers) to one (just below professional), giving participants the opportunity to compete against others who have a skill level that is comparable to their own. The vast majority of riders, on the other hand, are members of teams that compete together and cooperate during races.