7.13.2010

Tonight's Epic Road Race

With the Tour de France in full effect, I figured there couldn't be a better time to start my road racing career. Tonight I am entering my first EVER road race and even though I am a bit nervous, I couldn't be more excited. I love to do triathlons but always looking for a way to mix it up a bit and try something new. After hearing and reading about Roger and Team Arrivee latest races, I looked like a ton of fun...for them.


Now I have absolutely no background in any type of bike racing but did grow up on motorcycles and always wanted to race motorcross, so that helps...right? Ohh yeah, and I have been watching a bunch of the Tour if that counts for anything.

So with basically no idea on what I am actually doing, I did a quick internet search today and figured by the time I was done reading...I could probably turn pro. So found this link and figured if it was on the internet it must be true...

BASIC ROAD RACE TACTICS…
I want to write this for the road race novice and not necessarily for a rider from a big team where team tactics will play a much bigger role in how the race is planned and unfolds. There are obviously too many race scenarios to list in full as a road race is a dynamic thing and no two races are the same. That is what I love about the road… you have to use your brain and work out what’s going to happen and change your tactics as the race unfolds on any particular day. There are, however, basic scenarios that are the same whatever happens in any race, and here are just a few that will help the road race beginner..
With all my experience...this seems like a good start!!!

1. Recce the course… Always make time to have a look at the race route by going around it in the car either the day before the race , or on the morning of the race if time allows… Look out for major climbs, bad corners, road conditions, prevailing winds, exposed sections where cross winds could have a major impact and , naturally, have a good look at the finish. Is it uphill, downhill, bad corners etc.? Is it exposed, so the wind could come into play?

Well kind of too late...I will try and check it out when I get out there but if all else fails...just go with the flow.

2. Before the race, have a small warm up with a few sprints, so if the race starts at 1,000 miles per hour, or there is a climb after the first two miles, you are ready for it.

THESE RACES START OUT AT 1,000 MPH...Not with this racer!!!

3. If you are unsure who is riding the race, do some homework and find out the names of the “main players” and then, if you don’t know them, or what they look like, write their numbers on some masking tape and put this on your stem, so that in the race you can pick them out. If one of these guys or girls makes a move, you can go with them (if you can!) Or at least you can watch how they conduct themselves in the bunch and learn from their experience.

Note to self...Be the Main Player!!! Honestly though, I plan to watch and learn and then wait until everyone forgets about me and WHAM...who was that guy on the POS bike that just kicked our butts!

4. Stay close to the front of the race, especially early on and don’t be intimidated or swamped by other riders. Hold the wheels and if a gap opens near the front of the group, move into it to hold your forward position. Be confident and do not be timid, otherwise you will be “swamped” by the other riders and find yourself at the back of the group.. NOT the place to be. You will have to move back up (probably in the wind) and start the process all over again. Watch for echelons forming in cross winds and if this happens you MUST be near the front. If you find yourself in the “tail” of the echelon , in the gutter and gaps start opening, move over to the centre of the road (depending on wind direction) and try to form another echelon. This seldom happens in UK races, but it should! There is absolutely no point in trying to hang on in the gutter, as eventually you will be “spat out”, so , for goodness sake , get another echelon organised. It’s so much easier to work in a fluid echelon than grovelling in the gutter. Then, as soon as the race changes direction again, the group will reform. This won’t happen if you’ve left a 30 second gap open by staying in the gutter! Also when you are approaching a hill, especially a hard long or steep one, get to the front of the group! (This is where the recce comes into it’s own!) This will give you a chance to go with an attack without having to go around another 50 riders, or, if you are climbing badly, it gives you “room to go backwards” and still be a part of the group when you get to the top of the climb.. Be alert and concentrate on what is happening around you!

I pretty much have NO IDEA what this just said...

5. If a break forms and you are a part of it, for goodness sake, keep your mouth shut. A big lesson I learnt as a newbie pro was NEVER to start shouting and screaming for people to come through and try to organise the break. Stay quiet and just do as much in the break as the person who is doing the least. Don’t sit on the back, just go through, but don’t get carried away… Try to save as much energy as you can. If the race is long, don’t forget to eat and drink little and often. This can be overlooked with all the other things that are going on… But it’s important to stay fuelled up, so eat a little and drink a little at appropriate places...

Not sure what a "break" is and why it is such a secret but I have a feeling it doesn't involve stopping on the side of the road...

I highly doubt we will be seeing any of this at our race...
6. If you are in a small break away group, watch out for attacks, or if you are feeling good, plan your own attack. Best places to attack are on a hill, or if things have been jumping around on a particular hill, there will always be a lull over the brow. This is an ideal place to attack as it takes the others by surprise. Other good places to attack are in hard cross winds, or strong tailwinds. NEVER attack into a block head wind as you will soon be reeled in. Another excellent time to attack is if a group have been away and are being caught. As you are joining up with the breakaways, lay off a few lengths and you can be sure they will sit up when they catch the breakaways. As soon as they sit up when the junction is made (they always do this) ATTACK from the back and they will probably hesitate as they wait to see who is going to take up the chase, especially if they have all been working hard and the breakaways will be too tired to counter attack… and you are away !

Ohh...so that is a break. I will probably be hanging on for dear life so ATTACK will probably be out of the question...

7. THE FINISH… If the race ends in a bunch sprint, this is a very specialised and dangerous scenario. If you have any qualms that you can’t get involved as a novice, stay out of it. Eventually you will see what the other top dogs do and then you can try to emulate them. A bunch sprint can be very physical, so you will need to get used to the bumping and barging in the races before you get involved in a hectic bunch finish. You can always start the sprint near the front and just look what happens around you without actually putting yourself into a compromising position. LOOK AND LEARN…
In a sprint from a small group , things are much easier to work out, and now you can get involved without it being dangerous. If you are in a small group approaching the finish, the first thing to do is to work out several things at the same time… Which way is the wind blowing? Is it uphill or downhill? Which is the best wheel to be on? Can you see the finish banner well?
Now you can work out your sprint strategy. If it’s a head wind, don’t start the sprint too soon and come off the “right” wheel. If it’s a cross wind, try to attack on the sheltered side and then move to the shelter of the finishing straight. (don’t move your line too much though, as you could get disqualified…. Be safe!). If it’s tail wind, you can afford to jump early, but from the back of the group. Don’t advertise the fact that you are going to start your sprint by trying to jump off the front of the group.. Jump from last man and get a gap. Then the others will find difficult to close on you if there is a tail wind blowing. The last thing to remember is to sprint PAST the finish line and not “to” it. How many races have been lost in the last 50 metres by riders thinking they’ve got it in the bag. Even experienced riders get this wrong.. Remember Oscar Friere getting under Erik Zabels arms in the last 10 metres as he raised them , thinking he had won the Milan San Remo for the fifth time.. Oh dear… SPRINT PAST LINE !

Yes, there is a lot to learn about getting it right in a road race. But nothing compares with crossing that line with your arms in the air (once you are sure you’ve got it) believe me, it’s the best buzz you’ll get on a bike!

If I am actually in this situation...things have gone WAY wrong and it is in the best interest of all riders in front, behind and to the sides of me to WATCH OUT!!!

So now you pretty much have all the expertise and experience that I do...Should be a good race :)

5 comments:

jessithompson said...

ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!! TIMES A CADILLION!!!!!!! You ready? Here we go!

Rory Buck said...

Haha Haha Haha. This is brilliant. Have fun, go hard, but please don't die. I quite like having you as a house mate. Good luck Keven.

Spokane Al said...

Good luck. I will be looking forward to reading about your race adventure on the other side.

Carla said...

*Like* times a million! Haha haha haha! I didn't even know you were doing this, hope it was fun.

Josh said...

I am a little late on the comments but i thought this post was pretty dang funny Steve.