To finish a criterium, a racers needs to have a high fitness level that is specialized around repeated high intensity, but to be great a criterium racer you need have a fighter mentality. You must take be willing to take risks that such that you will do whatever is necessary to win. The drive to win the race needs to take over the desire for your personal safety. The last few laps of a criterium are an adrenaline rush! The fight or flight reflex will kick in at the end of a race. Great criterium racers fight.
Two things always happen in criteriums. First, racers try to get a breakaway started so that they can improve their chances for the finish. If you get away with 5 guys, then you are going to at least get 5th. Second, the race will end in a sprint whether you are in the breakaway or not! The making of a great criterium racer is having the ability to get into position for the final corner. Getting into position requires a heads up ability to realize the situation in the race and start your positioning with 4-5 laps to go.
The last few laps are always completely hectic because everyone is trying to move up. Racers will be taking risks and lines that were not taken the first 99% of the race. Guys will bump you off of a wheel, ride in the gutter to move up, elbow you around a corner, the slightest opening will be taken, etc… The speed will be faster and racers are taking risks, which can set off your fight or flight reaction. The last few laps for me always set off an adrenaline rush because of the excitement for the finish and the highend awareness.
Being able to sprint is important, but being able to have the guts and nerve to fight for position is what makes a great criterium racer. I have seen plenty of racers who can sprint, but when the pressure is on during the last few laps then get scared. Their flight instincts kick in, and they start thinking about crashing. You need to be mentally prepared for the intensity during the last few laps so that you fight. The great criterium racers fight for the finish!
Ride Hard,
Steve
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I just started racing criteriiums. I need inspiration to “fight” for my position. I backdown when I see riders go down or cut me off. How do I mentally handle the situation?
First, you need to be on the wheel in front of you and own it. If there is any opening, someone will and should take the wheel, so if you are leaving more that 6-12 inches then the wheel is open. You might think that they are pushing you off but you need to make sure that first you are owning the wheel in front of you. Owning the wheel requires that you work hard to not let the gap open up. This will mean that you might need to get of out the saddle and sprint a few revs to close the gap. Once you own the wheel, you don’t move if they start to move towards you, if you move then you are giving them the wheel. They are testing you to see if you will move off the wheel so that they can get the draft or get out of the wind. Don’t move, they won’t hit you or knock you over. The worse that will happen is that you will bump elbows or handlebars, and this rarely happens. Hold the wheel and hold your ground!