Racing - Sprint training for a lame ass
Racing - Sprint training for a lame ass
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citizenmtb

Original Poster:

1,495 posts

204 months

Thursday 12th April 2018
quotequote all
I know there are a lot of weak sprinters out there, I really need to hear some successful training stories as i'm getting a bit demotivated at the start of the season by being so strong for the race but getting swamped in the sprint.

2 races down so far and i'm really having mixed feelings. Last season i had a lot to learn about positioning, control and awareness, i kept my nose clean and didn't have any problems.

This year, i've raced twice, the first i kept out of the finish as it looked like it was going to be messy. The second i raced really strong, lead and felt in control of the race for a lot of it and felt really strong, but come the sprint i just get destroyed! frown 1st to 15th-ish in the last 100m

I've been trying to increase my sprint performance, and specifically high effort into sprint to replicate race finishes but i think i'm actually worse than last year so far. My peak power is around 1250w and today attempting to train i couldn't even make 700w after a few minutes of high effort.

Has anyone found a training plan that's been effective beyond the normal 'just do it' technique?

Banana Boy

467 posts

139 months

Friday 13th April 2018
quotequote all
citizenmtb said:
...lead and felt in control of the race for a lot of it and felt really strong, but come the sprint i just get destroyed! frown 1st to 15th-ish in the last 100m...
You need a REALLY big sprint or a very large time gap to pull off a win from out front!

I don't have a big sprint either but even so from what I've seen in televised races, my own view from behind the winners and the YouTube videos is that you need to head into that final sprint from about 5th wheel and use the people in front as lead out men!

citizenmtb

Original Poster:

1,495 posts

204 months

Friday 13th April 2018
quotequote all
Banana Boy said:
You need a REALLY big sprint or a very large time gap to pull off a win from out front!

I don't have a big sprint either but even so from what I've seen in televised races, my own view from behind the winners and the YouTube videos is that you need to head into that final sprint from about 5th wheel and use the people in front as lead out men!
Funny, my exact thoughts after the race were that i should of really been about 5th wheel.

I chased two separate attacks on the last lap then went for my own, probably a bit too early, which was my downfall.

JEA1K

2,704 posts

249 months

Friday 13th April 2018
quotequote all
citizenmtb said:
I know there are a lot of weak sprinters out there, I really need to hear some successful training stories as i'm getting a bit demotivated at the start of the season by being so strong for the race but getting swamped in the sprint.

2 races down so far and i'm really having mixed feelings. Last season i had a lot to learn about positioning, control and awareness, i kept my nose clean and didn't have any problems.

This year, i've raced twice, the first i kept out of the finish as it looked like it was going to be messy. The second i raced really strong, lead and felt in control of the race for a lot of it and felt really strong, but come the sprint i just get destroyed! frown 1st to 15th-ish in the last 100m

I've been trying to increase my sprint performance, and specifically high effort into sprint to replicate race finishes but i think i'm actually worse than last year so far. My peak power is around 1250w and today attempting to train i couldn't even make 700w after a few minutes of high effort.

Has anyone found a training plan that's been effective beyond the normal 'just do it' technique?
Sounds like you're being the lead out man for everyone else ...

If you've done 1250w, you're strong enough ... but are you strong enough to put out no less than 95% of that effort at the end of the race?

My guess is that you were already at your limit at the end of the race and other weren't, hence they sailed past. Two races in is two early to get downbeat ... its early April ... just look forward to summers days with hot weather, racing on a weekend!

Racing isn't about just 'fitness' or 'technique' ... its a mix of the two ... both come with hard work and practice.