Peaking - definition and truth

An approaching race calls for a peak. What does that mean? I was curious and looked up the definition:

peak ¹  (pk)n.

1. A tapering, projecting point; a pointed extremity: the peak of a cap; the peak of a roof.

2. Abbr. Pk.

a. The pointed summit of a mountain.

b. The mountain itself.

3.

a. The point of a beard.

b. A widow's peak.

4. The point of greatest development, value, or intensity: a novel written at the peak of the writer's career

 Hmmm. The truth looks more like this:

peak ¹  (pk)n.

1. From the french piquer, "to sting"
2. Periods of great  intensity leading to even greater suffering, making subsequent suffering appear easier

Happy race preparations :-)

La Grande