In cycling, “GC” stands for “General Classification.” It is a term commonly used in stage races, such as the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia, and Vuelta a España. The General Classification represents the overall ranking of riders based on their cumulative time across all stages of the race. The rider with the lowest total time is in the lead of the GC and typically wears a distinctive jersey (like the yellow jersey in the Tour de France) to signify their position.
The GC is a critical aspect of stage races, as it determines the overall winner of the event. Riders and teams often strategize throughout the race to either protect their GC position or to try to move up in the standings. Time bonuses are sometimes awarded at intermediate sprints and stage finishes, which can also impact the GC standings.
In addition to the GC, there are often other classifications within a stage race, such as the points classification (for sprinting), mountain classification (for climbing), and team classification, among others.