Chicane

A chicane is a short series of tight bends in alternating directions, left-right or right-left, placed on a race track or a straight. Its main purpose is to reduce speed, either for safety before a fast corner or to break up a very long straight.

Riding a chicane well means hard, straight-up braking on the approach, a quick change of direction and setting up the exit of the second bend, because that exit decides your speed onto the next straight. Good riders often sacrifice the first apex to get a better line through the second part.

Chicanes are also common overtaking points, so expect late braking from riders around you. On public roads, traffic-calming chicanes built with kerbs or bollards work on the same principle.