Neutralised start refers to the start of a race in which there isn’t a competition. The riders ride behind a pilot car in cities at a slow pace prior to reaching the actual starting line.
This practice ensures safety for all in dense or hazardous zones, such as city streets or thin roads, so that marshals can clear junctions and manage traffic. When the race director announces the end of the neutral zone, the starter’s gun or green flag indicates the race is resumed. Although some riders attempt to accelerate too early, the regulations do not permit sprinting until after the neutral zone, which maintains the race’s fairness.
