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Re: Cycling - sprint

Started by Ronaldo Jeremiah · · Last activity · 22 posts · 675 views

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Road Cycling
Published
24 August 2004
Last activity
25 August 2004
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Ronaldo Jeremiah
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  1. "Stevio" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

    Quoted message said:

    "Brissie" <[email hidden]> wrote

    Quoted message said:

    You want to start the race from behind. Being in the lead out, where
    you can't go behind the other rider(unless he overtakes you), is a
    disadvantage

    Because they can use the slipstream of the guy in front? I think I get it
    now. The guy in front however, might suddenly speed away from the guy behind
    if the other guy is not careful, so that's where the tactics come in. It
    still seems a bit strange though.

    Does anyone ever just zoom away at the start and make it into a full 3 lap
    race? If you're not super fast (or not as fast as the other guy) but have
    good stamina wouldn't that be a good plan?

    Stephen

    That tactic is usually only used if:

    -you think your chances against a stronger opponent are very poor, so
    you try a 'flyer' in the hopes you'll catch him (very) unaware - in
    other words, you're desperate.

    -the race is already in progress, and you do in fact notice he is
    unaware or somehow unprepared to react, and you attempt to seize that
    moment (for example, he reaches to adjust his shoe - attack! Again,
    this is probably only if you are fairly desperate, because when this
    fails, it fails miserably)

    -there are more than two riders in the race, and by attacking early,
    you can expect your opponents to hesitate in the hopes that the other
    one will take up the chase. This is fairly common in the three and
    four rider matches that make up the repechage rounds (French for
    loser's bracket). In some cases (never at the Olympics), the whole
    sprint tournament is three+ rider races.

    Going from the start only works if you open up a big gap right away.
    If your opponent gets a hold of your draft, you really can't win - the
    distance is too far to hold top speed. This is what makes the event
    interesting tactically.

    The earlier responses to your post were mostly right - the tactical
    kind of racing you are seeing is almost entirely based on the fact
    that using your opponent's slipstream is an advantage. There are
    other elements as well; for example, some riders may prefer a short
    sprint from a slow speed, whereas others excel at a long, fast sprint
    - in either case you try and make the race develop in the way that
    gives you an advantage.

    By the way, it is not always an advantage to try and come from behind.
    Some tracks lend themselves more to winning from the front
    (velodromes vary considerably in their characteristics, including
    their distance for one lap - this is not standard like it is in track
    and field). Some riders also prefer this tactic against certain
    opponents or in certain situations. It's a quite complicated event.

    -RJ

  2. In article <[email hidden]>, Ronaldo

    Jeremiah said:

    "Stevio" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:<[email hidden]>...

    Quoted message said:

    "Brissie" <[email hidden]> wrote

    Quoted message said:

    You want to start the race from behind. Being in the lead out, where
    you can't go behind the other rider(unless he overtakes you), is a
    disadvantage


    By the way, it is not always an advantage to try and come from behind.
    Some tracks lend themselves more to winning from the front
    (velodromes vary considerably in their characteristics, including
    their distance for one lap - this is not standard like it is in track
    and field). Some riders also prefer this tactic against certain
    opponents or in certain situations. It's a quite complicated event.

    Just to add to the answer, the leading rider has the advantage of
    having less distance to cover. The rider behind must make up the one
    bike length and will have to travel even farther if they try to come
    around the outside in the turn(s). This may add up to about 10-12 feet
    total. If a sprinter can go just as fast as his opponent and have 12
    feet less to cover then good tactics can allow the front rider to win
    the race.

    Usually the front rider will begin his acceleration close enough to the
    finish line that he is still accelerating all the way through the final
    turn(s) and the trailing rider must now make up 10-12 feet and must
    also accelerate even faster than the accelerating leading rider. The
    term "razor" is used to describe this tactic. I don't know why it's
    called the "razor" but I think Marty Nothstein's nickname of "The
    Blade" came from this tactic that he used to win the World
    Championship.

    -WG

  3. warren <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

    Quoted message said:

    In article <[email hidden]>, Ronaldo

    Jeremiah said:

    "Stevio" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:<[email hidden]>...

    Quoted message said:

    "Brissie" <[email hidden]> wrote
    > You want to start the race from behind. Being in the lead out, where
    > you can't go behind the other rider(unless he overtakes you), is a
    > disadvantage


    By the way, it is not always an advantage to try and come from behind.
    Some tracks lend themselves more to winning from the front
    (velodromes vary considerably in their characteristics, including
    their distance for one lap - this is not standard like it is in track
    and field). Some riders also prefer this tactic against certain
    opponents or in certain situations. It's a quite complicated event.

    Just to add to the answer, the leading rider has the advantage of
    having less distance to cover. The rider behind must make up the one
    bike length and will have to travel even farther if they try to come
    around the outside in the turn(s). This may add up to about 10-12 feet
    total. If a sprinter can go just as fast as his opponent and have 12
    feet less to cover then good tactics can allow the front rider to win
    the race.

    True enough.

    Quoted message said:


    Usually the front rider will begin his acceleration close enough to the
    finish line that he is still accelerating all the way through the final
    turn(s) and the trailing rider must now make up 10-12 feet and must
    also accelerate even faster than the accelerating leading rider. The
    term "razor" is used to describe this tactic. I don't know why it's
    called the "razor" but I think Marty Nothstein's nickname of "The
    Blade" came from this tactic that he used to win the World
    Championship.

    -WG

    BTN had this nickname back when he was a teenager racing at T-Town. I
    always thought it sounded kind of dumb, but I didn't have any
    nickname, so what the hell do I know? Anyway, the best nickname in
    track cycling is Anthony Peden's: The Weapon.

    -RJ

  4. Have a look at the mens sprint final. All three heats were won from
    behind...

    "warren" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:


    Just to add to the answer, the leading rider has the advantage of
    having less distance to cover. The rider behind must make up the one
    bike length and will have to travel even farther if they try to come
    around the outside in the turn(s). This may add up to about 10-12 feet
    total. If a sprinter can go just as fast as his opponent and have 12
    feet less to cover then good tactics can allow the front rider to win
    the race.

  5. "Ronaldo Jeremiah" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    warren <[email hidden]> wrote in message


    news:<[email hidden]>...

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    Usually the front rider will begin his acceleration close enough to the
    finish line that he is still accelerating all the way through the final
    turn(s) and the trailing rider must now make up 10-12 feet and must
    also accelerate even faster than the accelerating leading rider. The
    term "razor" is used to describe this tactic. I don't know why it's
    called the "razor" but I think Marty Nothstein's nickname of "The
    Blade" came from this tactic that he used to win the World
    Championship.

    -WG

    BTN had this nickname back when he was a teenager racing at T-Town. I
    always thought it sounded kind of dumb, but I didn't have any
    nickname, so what the hell do I know? Anyway, the best nickname in
    track cycling is Anthony Peden's: The Weapon.

    Follow the lead of George Castanza and make one up for yourself!

    Ronaldo "The Rocket" Jeremiah

  6. "Warren" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:


    BTN had this nickname back when he was a teenager racing at T-Town. I
    always thought it sounded kind of dumb, but I didn't have any
    nickname, so what the hell do I know? Anyway, the best nickname in
    track cycling is Anthony Peden's: The Weapon.

    Follow the lead of George Castanza and make one up for yourself!

    Ronaldo "The Rocket" Jeremiah

    That would depend on whether the Orwigsburg Rocket is still racing.

  7. Warren said:
    Quoted message said:

    Follow the lead of George Castanza and make one up for yourself!

    Ronaldo "The Rocket" Jeremiah

    and lance "big tex" armstrong...which i like, if i have to say.

    it might be best to make one up for yourself before anyone else can name
    you. i used to fantasize that i would get some romantic nick similar in
    feel to "the angel of the mountains" (at least, climbing was my best
    thing) but the name my friends spontaneously started calling me was "the
    energizer bunniee".

    yay.

    h

  8. In article <[email hidden]>, Nick Payne

    Quoted message said:

    Have a look at the mens sprint final. All three heats were won from
    behind...

    If a sprinter can't win from the front on occasion they won't be a
    really good sprinter.

    -WG

    Quoted message said:


    "warren" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:


    Just to add to the answer, the leading rider has the advantage of
    having less distance to cover. The rider behind must make up the one
    bike length and will have to travel even farther if they try to come
    around the outside in the turn(s). This may add up to about 10-12 feet
    total. If a sprinter can go just as fast as his opponent and have 12
    feet less to cover then good tactics can allow the front rider to win
    the race.

  9. "Nick Payne" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Have a look at the mens sprint final. All three heats were won from
    behind...

    It may occur to you that Bayley was just the fastest rider on the day
    (#1qualifier) making it possible with a bit of a draft to come from behind.
    Dave

  10. "warren" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    In article <[email hidden]>, Ronaldo

    Jeremiah said:

    "Stevio" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:<[email hidden]>...

    Quoted message said:

    "Brissie" <[email hidden]> wrote
    > You want to start the race from behind. Being in the lead out, where
    > you can't go behind the other rider(unless he overtakes you), is a
    > disadvantage


    By the way, it is not always an advantage to try and come from behind.
    Some tracks lend themselves more to winning from the front
    (velodromes vary considerably in their characteristics, including
    their distance for one lap - this is not standard like it is in track
    and field). Some riders also prefer this tactic against certain
    opponents or in certain situations. It's a quite complicated event.

    Just to add to the answer, the leading rider has the advantage of
    having less distance to cover. The rider behind must make up the one
    bike length and will have to travel even farther if they try to come
    around the outside in the turn(s). This may add up to about 10-12 feet
    total. If a sprinter can go just as fast as his opponent and have 12
    feet less to cover then good tactics can allow the front rider to win
    the race.

    Usually the front rider will begin his acceleration close enough to the
    finish line that he is still accelerating all the way through the final
    turn(s) and the trailing rider must now make up 10-12 feet and must
    also accelerate even faster than the accelerating leading rider. The
    term "razor" is used to describe this tactic. I don't know why it's
    called the "razor" but I think Marty Nothstein's nickname of "The
    Blade" came from this tactic that he used to win the World
    Championship.

    -WG

    There are a couple of fundamental things in running a "Razor" obviously the
    ability to accelerate over the whole of the sprint is one, placement on the
    track is #2, most razors are run from just above the pole line, maybe a foot
    or so above, giving the rider the ability to "break away" from his opponent
    in the event that there is some bumping going on from the rider on top. #3
    the ability to keep your opponent right on your outside hip where you can
    see him and not letting him drop down behind you and under. Also the lead
    rider upon exiting turn 4 can drop down a few feet and pick up an extra gap
    and break some of the side draft that happens thru the turn. Good razors are
    run fast enough to assert control of your opponent from the FRONT, not just
    to accelerate through the sprint, any accomplished sprinter is capable of
    that.
    Dave

  11. In article <[email hidden]>,

    Dave H said:

    "Nick Payne" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Have a look at the mens sprint final. All three heats were won from
    behind...

    It may occur to you that Bayley was just the fastest rider on the day
    (#1qualifier) making it possible with a bit of a draft to come from behind.
    Dave

    This is just like people ranting about how important home-court
    advantage is in the NBA and how much higher the winning percentage is
    for the team with home-court. But the team with home-court is--in terms
    of record--the better team; that's why they have home-court.

    --Harold Buck

    "I used to rock and roll all night,
    and party every day.
    Then it was every other day. . . ."
    -Homer J. Simpson

  12. "Harold Buck" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    In article <[email hidden]>,

    Dave H said:

    "Nick Payne" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Have a look at the mens sprint final. All three heats were won from
    behind...

    It may occur to you that Bayley was just the fastest rider on the day
    (#1qualifier) making it possible with a bit of a draft to come from


    behind.

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    Dave

    This is just like people ranting about how important home-court
    advantage is in the NBA and how much higher the winning percentage is
    for the team with home-court. But the team with home-court is--in terms
    of record--the better team; that's why they have home-court.

    --Harold Buck

    Dearest Nipplehead,

    there is no home court advantage in Athens, that is why speed and tactics
    come into play.
    Dave

  13. In article <[email hidden]>,

    Dave H said:

    "Harold Buck" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    In article <[email hidden]>,

    Dave H said:

    "Nick Payne" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...
    > Have a look at the mens sprint final. All three heats were won from
    > behind...

    It may occur to you that Bayley was just the fastest rider on the day
    (#1qualifier) making it possible with a bit of a draft to come from


    behind.

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    Dave

    This is just like people ranting about how important home-court
    advantage is in the NBA and how much higher the winning percentage is
    for the team with home-court. But the team with home-court is--in terms
    of record--the better team; that's why they have home-court.

    --Harold Buck

    Dearest Nipplehead,

    there is no home court advantage in Athens, that is why speed and tactics
    come into play.
    Dave

    God, if you're going to be a [censored], at least make sure you understand
    what you're replying to. I was *agreeing* with you: since the guy is the
    #1 qualifier, he's better than the opposition and therefore gets to come
    from behind. But it's not necessarily the coming from behind that makes
    him win, it's that he's just better.

    I wasn't saying there was a home-court advantage, although there would
    be if Greek cyclists were involved. I was saying that there was a
    parallel.

    --Harold Buck

    "I used to rock and roll all night,
    and party every day.
    Then it was every other day. . . ."
    -Homer J. Simpson

  14. In article
    <[email hidden]>, Harold

    Buck said:

    In article <[email hidden]>,

    Dave H said:

    "Harold Buck" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    In article <[email hidden]>,
    "Dave H" <[email hidden]> wrote:

    > "Nick Payne" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    > news:[email hidden]...
    > > Have a look at the mens sprint final. All three heats were won from
    > > behind...

    Not really. See below.

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >
    > It may occur to you that Bayley was just the fastest rider on the day
    > (#1qualifier) making it possible with a bit of a draft to come from


    behind.

    Quoted message said:

    > Dave

    This is just like people ranting about how important home-court
    advantage is in the NBA and how much higher the winning percentage is
    for the team with home-court. But the team with home-court is--in terms
    of record--the better team; that's why they have home-court.

    --Harold Buck

    Dearest Nipplehead,

    there is no home court advantage in Athens, that is why speed and tactics
    come into play.
    Dave

    God, if you're going to be a [censored], at least make sure you understand
    what you're replying to. I was *agreeing* with you: since the guy is the
    #1 qualifier, he's better than the opposition and therefore gets to come
    from behind. But it's not necessarily the coming from behind that makes
    him win, it's that he's just better.

    Actually you have it wrong. The Dutch rider in the men's gold medal
    final wanted to ride from the front (in all three of the rides), and
    his tactics showed this. He obviously felt that his chances for victory
    were better from the front.

    In the men's bronze medal second ride the German who won that ride was
    essentially racing from the front because he took the lead before the
    sprint was really underway.

    In the women's gold medal final the Canadian won one ride from the
    front and the other from the rear. She was clearly superior to the
    Russian rider and in this case it is often best to control the other
    rider (and your fate) by riding in the front.

    It takes a fair amount of experience to see all the subtleties in match
    sprinting and it seems like the better the riders are the more subtle
    their tactics are in most cases. Try watching these sprints again and
    look closely at their use of speeds and their precise positions up the
    bankings, and then how each rider responds to the other's changes in
    speed and position on the banking-there's a lot going on there.

    On a track as steep as Athens' and at the speeds they were going, the
    rear position is not as bad as it would be on virtually any other track
    (with shallower banking) and slower speeds.

    Dave has no doubt had the experience of watching novice match sprinters
    at the local track trying to position themselves in the rear without
    really knowing why (or if) they should do this, but they see it on TV
    so they think their own tactics should be the same. Good for a few
    smiles.

    -WG

  15. "warren" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    In article
    <[email hidden]>, Harold

    Buck said:

    In article <[email hidden]>,

    Dave H said:

    "Harold Buck" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...
    > In article <[email hidden]>,
    > "Dave H" <[email hidden]> wrote:
    >
    > > "Nick Payne" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    > > news:[email hidden]...
    > > > Have a look at the mens sprint final. All three heats were won


    from

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    > > > behind...

    Not really. See below.

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    > >
    > > It may occur to you that Bayley was just the fastest rider on the


    day

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    > > (#1qualifier) making it possible with a bit of a draft to come


    from

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    behind.
    > > Dave
    >
    >
    > This is just like people ranting about how important home-court
    > advantage is in the NBA and how much higher the winning percentage


    is

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    > for the team with home-court. But the team with home-court is--in


    terms

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    > of record--the better team; that's why they have home-court.
    >
    > --Harold Buck

    Dearest Nipplehead,

    there is no home court advantage in Athens, that is why speed and


    tactics

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    come into play.
    Dave

    God, if you're going to be a [censored], at least make sure you understand
    what you're replying to. I was *agreeing* with you: since the guy is the
    #1 qualifier, he's better than the opposition and therefore gets to come
    from behind. But it's not necessarily the coming from behind that makes
    him win, it's that he's just better.

    Actually you have it wrong. The Dutch rider in the men's gold medal
    final wanted to ride from the front (in all three of the rides), and
    his tactics showed this. He obviously felt that his chances for victory
    were better from the front.

    In the men's bronze medal second ride the German who won that ride was
    essentially racing from the front because he took the lead before the
    sprint was really underway.

    In the women's gold medal final the Canadian won one ride from the
    front and the other from the rear. She was clearly superior to the
    Russian rider and in this case it is often best to control the other
    rider (and your fate) by riding in the front.

    It takes a fair amount of experience to see all the subtleties in match
    sprinting and it seems like the better the riders are the more subtle
    their tactics are in most cases. Try watching these sprints again and
    look closely at their use of speeds and their precise positions up the
    bankings, and then how each rider responds to the other's changes in
    speed and position on the banking-there's a lot going on there.

    On a track as steep as Athens' and at the speeds they were going, the
    rear position is not as bad as it would be on virtually any other track
    (with shallower banking) and slower speeds.

    Dave has no doubt had the experience of watching novice match sprinters
    at the local track trying to position themselves in the rear without
    really knowing why (or if) they should do this, but they see it on TV
    so they think their own tactics should be the same. Good for a few
    smiles.

    -WG

    Thank you. One of my favorite things is to tell aspiring sprinters that they
    need to be able to control the race from the BACK, they tilt their heads
    like puppies and say...huh?
    Dave

  16. "warren" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:

    Have a look at the mens sprint final. All three heats were won from
    behind...

    If a sprinter can't win from the front on occasion they won't be a
    really good sprinter.

    -WG

    Conversely, they're not a really good sprinter if they can _only_ win from
    the front, as well.

  17. h squared said:

    it might be best to make one up for yourself before anyone else can name
    you. i used to fantasize that i would get some romantic nick similar in
    feel to "the angel of the mountains" (at least, climbing was my best
    thing) but the name my friends spontaneously started calling me was "the
    energizer bunniee".

    If my memory serves me right, my nickname was 'get off my freakin'
    wheel, [censored]". Had a nice ring to it actually - and the first sign
    of any progress. Before I had a nickname, they just looked surprised
    that I was anywhere in the general area of their rear wheel.

    Curtis L. Russell
    Odenton, MD (USA)
    Just someone on two wheels...

  18. Curtis L. Russell said:

    my nickname was 'get off my freakin' wheel, [censored]".

    That is such a useless remark. I must always laugh when I hear that.
    Then they get mad and try and shake me off. Haha!

    E.
    -wheelsucker primadeluxe

  19. h squared said:

    i used to fantasize that i would get some romantic nick similar in
    feel to "the angel of the mountains" (at least, climbing was my best
    thing) but the name my friends spontaneously started calling me was "the
    energizer bunniee".

    My all time favorite rider nickname belongs to Federico 'The Eagle
    of Toledo' Bahamontes.

    Bob Schwartz
    [email hidden]

  20. Bob Schwartz said:
    h squared said:

    i used to fantasize that i would get some romantic nick similar in
    feel to "the angel of the mountains" (at least, climbing was my best
    thing) but the name my friends spontaneously started calling me was "the
    energizer bunniee".

    My all time favorite rider nickname belongs to Federico 'The Eagle
    of Toledo' Bahamontes.

    Nah!! He just borrowed it from the original Eagle, The Eagle of Adliswil

    --
    le Vent a Dos, Davey Crockett
    Six Day Site: http://members.rogers.com/sixday/

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