Crits

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So, in a couple of weeks I will be racing a Cat V race and then a couple hours later a Cat IV/V race. I don't have any real expectations for the IV/V race except to help out my teammates. My question is what can I expect and what should be my role in this race?

Chances are you'll be cooked after the first race and will be too tired to be of much use in the next race, especially when the field will be even faster. But if you are feeling up to it, there are a variety of things you can do to help your teammates. You could chase down breaks or block the front if a break with a teammate in it gets away. If it gets to a sprint, you could lead out a teammate.

So, in a couple of weeks I will be racing a Cat V race and then a couple hours later a Cat IV/V race. I don't have any real expectations for the IV/V race except to help out my teammates. My question is what can I expect and what should be my role in this race?
Impossible to say w/o more info. If you are a pro-semi pro mountain biker in your first crit, you can expect to lap the field and pull your team mates at will.

If you have been riding for 10-15 hours a week for a year or two, you can expect to win or podium.

If you just started cycling this year maybe last year and this is your first race, sit in for a while conserve energy and re-evaluate 2/3rds into the race. If you are feeling good and notice others breathing very heavily or slumped and looking down, etc...attack! Or wait until the last lap and hope you get a good wheel into the last corner and don't get boxed. That's pretty much the norm in 5, 4 and 3 crits unless some stronger teams can control the race.

.... My question is what can I expect ...Expect the race to go out fast....very fast! Get a real good warmup including a few real hard minutes. Most crits slow down after a few furious laps but those first few will probably be the fastest except the last two or three, be ready by starting near the front and going hard from the gun.

Expect to corner very fast with folks all around you. If you're nervous in the corner and brake beyond absolute necessity (like a crash in front of you or an unusually tight corner) expect to lose ground and really hurt as you have to jump out of the corner to catch folks who cornered without braking. Find a smooth and safe line that lets you keep speed. Don't take stupid chances like diving underneath folks in tight corners. If you've got decent leg speed it really pays to downshift while entering corners and only upshift after you've regained speed out of the corner. Too many people hammer big gears and have to jump out of the saddle on every corner, this will kill you in a crit.

Try like hell to stay in the front third of the field at all times. If it's a big field try to stay in the first 8 to 10 riders at all times. If you drift back you'll work twice as hard and have a much greater chance of being involved in or caught behind a wreck. If you find yourself further back than that look for easy opportunities to advance. After the first few laps and before the last few there are often surges in the pace followed by easier bits. Look for those easier bits and advance a few riders every time the pack slows, don't get tunnel vision and just follow the wheel in front of you even when it means coasting or braking if you're not near the front.

Expect the last couple of laps to be as hard or harder than the first few. If you're not near the front with three to go on a short course you may not get the chance to get there as the windup starts.

And I hate to say it, but expect some squirrely riding in a Cat 5 crit. There will be some good riders and some less skilled riders. Try to figure out who's who early on and avoid the dangerous folks. Staying up front helps a lot here since the better riders tend to ride near the front.

Good luck and keep the rubber side down,
-Dave