peloton
n. countablen. a group of soldiers or riders who move together in a line. In modern times, it usually refers to the main group of cyclists in a race.
n. a body of troops or riders moving in a line. In contemporary cycling, it refers to the main group of competitors who have not yet broken away from the lead.
The cyclists stayed in the peloton to save energy.
After the first breakaway, the peloton began to close the gap and regain control of the race.
Professional cyclists often rely on the drafting effect provided by the peloton to reduce wind resistance and conserve precious energy for the final sprint to the finish line.
Borrowed from French peloton (“small ball (of thread, etc.), pellet; (cycling) group of riders formed during a cycling road race; (military) small group of soldiers, platoon”), from pelote (“small ball (of thread, etc.)”) (ultimately from Latin pila (“ball; ball game; globe, sphere”) (probably referring to a ball of hair), from pilus (“strand of hair”), of uncertain origin) + -on (augmentative suffix). Doublet of platoon.