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Glite Dictionary
bicycle race

bicycle race

1 1.4
A competition where people ride bikes to finish first
  • noun
  • /ˈbaɪsɪkəl reɪs/
translation icon : carrera de bicicletas
  • She trained every day to prepare for the grueling bicycle race that would challenge her endurance and speed.

Examples

  • This is a 200-lap, 50-mile bicycle race... ridden on a one-quarter mile track.

    Breaking Away (1979)

  • We've decided to expand the field of this year's Little 500 bicycle race... to include a team from the town.

    Breaking Away (1979)

  • When's the bicycle race starting?

    Fiction book (1998)

  • We just decided to go to the six-day bicycle races at Madison Square Garden.

    Pocketful of Miracles (1961)

  • In addition, the shortage of gasoline recently caused the Cubans to cancel an annual bicycle race around the island.

    Academic text (1994)

  • This can partly be attributed to the success of American cyclists in the Tour de France, long considered the premier bicycle race in the sport of cycling.

    Academic text (2006)

  • "That's my big idea for our opening day celebration—a bicycle race across San Francisco.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • The contest in question is a two-day event with bicycle races hierarchically stratified by the USCF category criteria.

    Academic text (1991)

  • The annual bicycle race attracted hundreds of participants eager to compete for the top prize.

  • During the summer, many local enthusiasts sign up to take part in the exciting bicycle race through the countryside.

Synonyms

race
vsbicycle race
∞ 1.0

A contest to see who is fastest or finishes first

is specific to contests where people ride two wheeled vehicles to finish first
bike race
vsbicycle race
5 1.7

A competition where people ride bicycles to see who is fastest

is the same meaning but uses a shorter informal label

How Competitive

bicycle race
1 1.4
charity event
25 2.1

Surface Forms

bicycle race singular
bicycle races plural

Morphology

bicycle + race

The meaning 'a competition in which people ride bicycles' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'bicycle' (a two-wheeled vehicle) with 'race' (a contest to finish first). This noun-noun composition follows a basic and cross-linguistically common pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Bicycle race comes from two simple words: bicycle (a two-wheeled bike) and race (a fast contest). Picture riders starting together and pedaling hard to be first, so bicycle race means 'a competition to see who finishes first'.