Skills

Starting a Criterium – Get Clipped In!

The last thing you want when you start your first criterium is to get dropped at the whistle because you could not get your pedal clicked in.  I have seen this with Cat 5, and seen Cat 1s screwing it up.  You must practice doing this quickly and then sprinting up to speed.  Don’t think [...]

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The Sprint

Here is a short video of the finish for this weeks Practice criterium.  It was under 40F so there were not a lot of people and it was freezing cold.  I was leading out Dan for the finish, and I was trying out my rear mounted Replay Xd camera.  The rear mount and the front [...]

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To get a break…you need a Gap

Here is another short video about attacking the field in a Criterium.  Get a Gap! Ride Hard Steve  

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Staying on a wheel in Criterium!

I am going to keep this short since I hope to be able to post a new race video tomorrow. It is that time of the year.  Many people are preparing for their first criterium race ever, and this advice is for those newbies. YOU MUST STAY ON THE WHEEL IN FRONT OF YOU.  Completing [...]

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Crashes Happen – Just ask Mark Cavendish

In Criterium racing (and bike racing in general) crashes happen.  I was watching Gent-Wevelgem (http://www.cycling.tv  is great) while I was riding the trainer Sunday morning.  Sean Kelly was commenting how far back Mark Cavendish was in the back, and then like fate, there was a crash right in front of Mark.  Nothing to bad, but just enough to [...]

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My First Bike Race

I thought I should share this from USA Cycling:  My First Bike Race.  I discussed the same topic for criteriums last year.   Please join Kristin Dieffenbach, PhD and USA Cycling Level 1 coach as she helps you begin the road to success as a bike racer.  Join us for a Webinar on April 19 The aim [...]

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What Makes a Great Criterium Racer?

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 [...]

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You Crashed, Now What?

Criteriums can be risky.  There is one rule in bike racing and even more so in criterium racing:  You race, you crash.  It is more of a matter of when and how often.  Lance Armstrong crashes even though he is a highly protected, experienced, and valuable bike racer.  What causes crashes?  Here is an incomplete [...]

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How to Sprint in a Crit

Like all skills in bike racing and criterium racing, sprinting requires practice!   If you have positioned yourself correctly for the final corner, then you  are ready to sprint for the win! Timing KEY:  Jump hard when you start your sprint.  You need to get a gap….separation is critical.  You want to make it harder for [...]

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Sprinting

Knowing the situation One thing for sure in a Crit:  There will be a sprint (unless you have soloed in for the win).  The finishing sprint should never be a surprise if you have been paying attention.  Most races are either a fixed number of laps or fixed time plus X number of laps.  Then [...]

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Moving up in a Criterium Pack

In a Crit, if you are not moving up, you are moving backward because everyone is moving up.  If you can’t see the top 5-10 riders, then you need move up.  This has to be a key focus for the whole race in order to make the crit easier.  If you find yourself near the back [...]

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