The general classification (or the GC) in road bicycle racing is the category that tracks overall times for riders in multi-stage races. Each stage will have a stage winner, but the overall winner in the GC is the rider who has the fastest cumulative time across all stages. Hence, whoever wins the GC is generally regarded as the winner of the race. It is possible to win the GC without winning a stage. It is also possible to win the GC race without being the GC leader before the last stage.