Is a road road where all riders race of the same distance but depending on their grading and past performances riders are allocated a handicap time.
The riders leave at this time in small groups, riders in the group ride working together hoping to keep the others at bay, the best / fastest riders leave last, this could be an hour after the first and are known as scratch, if the handicapping is spot on, all riders will be together for the final sprint to the line. This is dependent on all riders riding to their best & the weather conditions being as expected when the handicapping is done, wind & rain can change the performance of the riders.

McDonalds Blue Lake Cup
Photograph:MS