Tour de France: How do cycling teams work?

A peloton of Slate readers have e-mailed to ask: How do cycling teams work?

One member of the team serves as its leader, and the others do everything they can to help him win. In the major races, each team leader works with eight other riders, called "domestiques," who don't have much chance of winning the race themselves. . . .

What do the domestiques do? For the most part, they ride in front of the team leader. Cycling team strategy revolves around the notion that it's easier to pedal when there's someone in front of you to cut the wind. Cycling experts say that "drafting" like this can save you between 20 and 40 percent of your energy in a long event. . . .

The various teams in a road race tend to ride in one tight clump, called a peloton, so each competitor gets the benefit of drafting. Except for the guy in the lead, of course—he's said to be "pulling" the pack. The puller tires more quickly, even as he sets the pace for everyone else; after a short stint in front, he'll move back and let another rider take over. Team leaders like Armstrong tend to hang back in these clusters to conserve energy, while their teammates take turns out in front.