Cycling Utah Article Published March 2010

Early Season Racing Tactics

We love watching the early season Pro Tour level races. Some riders have arrived for the Spring Classics with the best form of their season, others are just hoping to stay upright and gain some fitness for a Grand Tour or two.

For many amateur racers, the local springtime events are an opportunity to flex those winter training miles and make a statement. For others, early season races can help improve fitness and lead to a strong summer campaign.

Regardless of your fitness level heading into the first handful of races, your tactics may be dictated in large part by springtime weather conditions.

Spring weather tends to be volatile, so race tactics and strategy must adapt. In most early season races the wind can be strong and cold. If a course is windy, be sure to ride heads-up at all times – even more than usual!

Stronger riders may take advantage of the discouraging conditions to either attack or set a strong pace at the front. Such moves by powerful riders may cause the pack to string out single file. If there is a crosswind and the riders are savvy, they will ride at the very edge of the road or allocated lane to force everyone behind “into the gutter” – i.e. directly behind them where they can’t escape winds from the side. “Guttering” a pack will generally result in gaps opening up between riders or groups, as riders who can’t hold the wheel in front of them drop off. This causes multiple groups and eventually more collaborative echelons form.

Whether or not you are one of the stronger riders based on pure fitness or raw power, you can still ride near the front to help avoid being caught behind riders getting gapped, or stuck with a tattered group chasing the leaders.

Fast-forward to the finish. Sprinting to the line is a factor all year round. Springtime winds may dramatically affect how a sprint finish unfolds and how you must adjust to attain a good result.

When approaching the finish, carefully note the direction of the wind. Are you dealing with a crosswind or headwind? Either way, you will want to stay in the draft until the very last moment; in a headwind you’re directly behind the rider in front of you, in a crosswind you will want to be positioned however far to the side you need to be to get out of the wind.

Unfortunately, everybody else wants to orient themselves in a similar manner behind one of the lead riders, so you need to do your best so as not to get boxed in. One way to do that is not to get greedy: orient yourself partially in the wind and partially in the draft with a good solid exit to make your final push. When you do take off, hold a steady line; no swerving. Wait for the last 25-50 meters then give it all you’ve got.

Whatever your early-season goals, stay attentive and close enough to the front to go with the leaders when things heat up.

Cameron Hoffman
Three Time LOTOJA winner and RACE SMART Coach

Mark Deterline
Cycling Journalist & Super-Domestique