We can stand on the side of the road and wait for a cycling event to pass our location. In the most prominent races, a publicity caravan with sponsors proceeds the race’s arrival. Then, the competitors pass, followed by team support vehicles, and finally, a broom wagon signals the end of the race, and the road is re-opened. We glimpse the competitors, and for a fraction of a moment, we are part of the race’s orchestration.

Or, we can pin on a number and be a competitor. We can experience the event and be part of an event in motion.

We cannot join every competition, but knowing which ones are paramount to our progress might be helpful.