Prep for final sprint

I usually make sure that i am in a good position in regards to the rest of the field especially those who i feel are my main competition. I dont have a preference of leading out or coming off a wheel, as each sprint is different. Although in a head wind i will usually try to stay behind as long as possible (even up to 30-40m before the line). I also have a fair idea now of which gear i can push in a sprint (53x12 tail wind/fast race and normally 53x13/14 if it is headwind/slow uphill finish) so will ride in that gear for the last km or so incase somone jumps early i can get straight onto it (i like to kick in a big gear as it gives u extra top end speed and very minimal disadvantage in regards to acceleration a race pace, it is also very impractical to change gears at full noise).

I think that sprints are really hard to give any real advice for as they all are so different to each other. My main thoughts are that if there is an attack close to the finish u either let it go and let others chase, or get straight onto it. You should know how far u can chase for and if u chase too far u must realise that u will only be leading somebody else out.

Also make sure that u are holding the bars in your normal sprinting position (the best is on the drops) as it sounds silly but trying to sprint in an unusual position is hard and changing during a sprint is very tricky if u want to hold your pace.

Im not sure if there is anything else that i usually do in the leadup except to pay as much attention to everybody as possible, it is quite hard to know which wheel is the right one but try to keep on the faster moving wheel (the one that is going forward in the bunch) and dont hit the wind until u have to.

drewjc,

Thanks alot for the hints. Sounds like you reduce the cadence and make sure you are in the right gear during the last bit to be ready for the jump.

I understand that getting the revs up puts more load on the cardiovascular system which might not be a good idea either as I usually end up maxing out the HR as well.

Maybe all I need to do is practice more "final sprints" 🙂

Cheers,
davef

Yeah i find that it helps to relax me a bit if i am in a larger gear (ie. lower cadence). It also helps my acceleration (i think). As u say though, the best thing is practice. Sprinting is probably more about positioning than it is about speed. Practice is all you can do.
Good Luck

I'm still a beginner, but this is what I did in my only sprint win... a few weeks ago. (not a real race but none the less)

I picked the guy I wanted to beat and stayed with him... he broke away from the pack by about 5 meters with more than 2km to go and I followed. There was a strong head wind and if I lost him it was all over.... I was sometimes behind him, sometimes just to his right... as he picked up speed, I'd copy... I'd watch his gears and try and stay as relaxed as possible.... when he'd start to wind up, I'd follow....He's look over his shoulder and see me still there and he'd go a bit faster.. As I saw him reach what I thought was his max, I still had some extra power and tried to sling shot past him..... he got the fright of his life when I was accelerating past him at his peak.... made him give up..... I easily beat him.... I still figured I could go faster if he made another attack. (was doing 54kph) against a strong wind. I find it hard to go that fast down hills usually... I was drafting him to perfection...the wind was obviously killing him.

This guy is a friend and a B grade rider..where as I'm only still in E class. I'm too heavy to lead, and he had no idea how close I was or how easy I was going. most of the time.... I just timed it well and kept my cool.

Luckily those others in our race (training race) were also E class.

Later that night I uploaded my HRM and my heart had peaked at 192. It had never gone over 191 before...so even though I was relaxed and focused on keeping the lead....my heart was peaking at the right time... not before the sprint but just before the finish line.... I had no idea it was going so hard....

Staying cool and in good position is about the best I can think of....

Baden Cooke seems to be doing the same, and I think we'll see him win a lot more sprints this year.... watch him... you can see him thinking in the last 200m... looking everywhwhere...he is really aware of what everybody else is doing....

I'm always pretending that I'm, attached to the leaders by a big elastic band and that as they speed up, my potential energy is building and when the elastic is fully stretched I let it go and see if I can just fly by..... don't let the elastic snap before you break....

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by davef
What do you guys do to prep for the final sprint in a race?

I have noticed that the pace seems to back off a bit, say 1-2Kms before the end of the race. Would this be a good time to spin and try to clear the lactic acid before the jump or ?

Even tho I stand at intervals during the race, the last time I stand before the BIG sprint is usually when I will cramp up.

Appreciate any comments.

davef

-make sure shoes are tight (but only if safe to do in a big group)
-get hands onto the drops and try to keep shoulders/upper arms relaxed until you "explode" for the finish
-use any lull in the pace to suck in some deep breaths and focus
-mark any known fastmen, on their wheel is good, but not always crucial
-it's important to visualize winning...being drawn to the line
-make sure your sprint is an absolute, 100%, all out effort. Don't hold anything in reserve.
-take note of the weather....headwind, go late in perhaps a lower gear...crosswind, use protection from other riders or buildings....tailwind, drop the 11 and be prepared for a long one....rain, be aware of rear wheel traction and keep well away from the brakes

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by ed073
-make sure shoes are tight (but only if safe to do in a big group)
-get hands onto the drops and try to keep shoulders/upper arms relaxed until you "explode" for the finish
-use any lull in the pace to suck in some deep breaths and focus
-mark any known fastmen, on their wheel is good, but not always crucial
-it's important to visualize winning...being drawn to the line
-make sure your sprint is an absolute, 100%, all out effort. Don't hold anything in reserve.
-take note of the weather....headwind, go late in perhaps a lower gear...crosswind, use protection from other riders or buildings....tailwind, drop the 11 and be prepared for a long one....rain, be aware of rear wheel traction and keep well away from the brakes

And aim to sprint to a point about 20 metres/yards beyond the finish line; don't just aim for the line - you may well end up slowing up a fraction and getting passed on the line a la Zabel in Milan-San Remo.