leading group
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leading group
In sports, a group of athletes who have moved to the front of the field during a race and have a lead over the other participants.
Beim Radrennen konnte sich eine kleine Spitzengruppe vom Rest des Feldes absetzen.
In the cycling race, a small leading group was able to break away from the rest of the field.
The word is made up of 'Spitze' (top/front) and 'Gruppe' (group), connected by an 'n'. Here, 'Spitze' means 'frontmost part' or 'leading position'. A 'Spitzengruppe' (leading/top group) is therefore literally a 'group at the top'.
Nur eine kleine Gruppe von Forschern bildet die absolute Spitzengruppe in diesem Fachgebiet.
Only a small group of researchers forms the absolute top group in this field.
You can recognize the meaning from the context. In a sports context, for example with words like 'Rennen' (race), 'Feld' (field), or 'Vorsprung' (lead), it means the leading group in a competition. In other contexts, for example 'Wirtschaft' (economy/business), 'Unternehmen' (company), or 'Forschung' (research), it refers to the most successful players in a field.
Die Spitzengruppe hatte einen Vorsprung von zwei Minuten auf die Verfolger.
The leading group had a two-minute lead over the chasers.
In a sports context, 'Spitzengruppe' (leading group) is often used with certain verbs. Typical phrases are: 'sich vom Feld absetzen' (to break away from the field), 'zur Spitzengruppe aufschließen' (to catch up with the leading group), or 'die Spitzengruppe einholen' (to catch the leading group).
Der Radfahrer versuchte, zur Spitzengruppe aufzuschließen.
The cyclist tried to catch up with the leading group.
In the business or social meaning, the construction 'zur Spitzengruppe gehören' (to belong to the top group) is often used. The preposition 'zu' requires the dative here.
Deutschland gehört zur Spitzengruppe der Exportnationen.
Germany belongs to the top group of exporting nations.
tip / top / lace
'die Spitze' and 'die Spitzengruppe' both have to do with a leading position. 'die Spitze' can mean the top position or leadership in a general sense: a person, a team, or an entire management group. 'die Spitzengruppe' always means several people or teams that are at the front or especially successful. In sports, this is often the group at the front of a race. The words can be confused because both contain 'Spitze'. If you mean only first place or the lead, 'die Spitze' fits; if you mean several leaders, 'die Spitzengruppe' is more precise.
In der letzten Runde setzte sich die Spitzengruppe deutlich vom Feld ab.
In the final lap, the leading group clearly pulled away from the field.
Nach dem Gespräch war klar, wer an der Spitze des Projekts steht.
After the conversation, it was clear who was leading the project.