Criterium Racing...Any hints?

Re: Criterium Racing...Any hints?

I assume it is your first race. So my advice is that you should sit in the middle of the bunch somewhere in the first 10 riders. If you sit down the back you may suffer from a concetina effect. As the riders accellerate out of each corner, the riders at the back have to work harder to rejoin the group.

Be careful not to overlap the wheel in front of you. This is extremely important. Focus a lot of your attention to this. Try and maintain a gap of around 30 cm and sit just to one side say about 10 cm.Any sudden movement from the rider in front can cause contact between his/her back wheel and your front. This will 9 times out of ten cause YOU to fall off.
Remember that in a crit, you will usually be going around corners faster than you may be used to in training. For this reason it is vital that you maintain a good line, and keep the inside crank at 12 oclock. This will avoid the dreaded pedal kiss of death. Some more experienced riders might know each corner well and be able to pedal right around the corners so watch the line they take and try to use the same line if possible.

The bunch will most likely have a couple of lines up front that roll over so one person does a turn at the front and rolls over to let the next rider through. Each one does a "turn" at the front. Make sure you do your turn and quickly roll over. Dont stay at the front for large amounts of time as this will tire you very quickly.

Important: You might start the race at a speed where you think. "These guys are pussies, how slow is this". dont be fooled, this is just how the race has started. Usually the pace will pick up and surge or slow down. Stay in the bunch. Dont be a hero. During the race look for the "sprinter". Usually some guy who looks relatively fresh, has not done any work the whole race. Sit on his wheel with a couple of laps to go and stick to it like glue. Others will try to take his wheel as well. Hold your line as best you can, follow the sprinter to the line, make your move with 50 metres to go and go over the finish line arms raised. (maybe I got a little carried away at the end there).

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Re: Criterium Racing...Any hints?

I'll be surprised if you can get through a crit in the small ring, you will likely need to be in the big ring for the whole race!!

As to raising the arms $100 fine...

Re: Criterium Racing...Any hints?

I agree. You will most likely spend a lot of the time on the big bugger. When it comes to the sprint, make sure if you need a big burst of accelleration, not far from the line, dont be in too big a gear. You need to be explosive, Big gears are hard to do this in. You might use a bigger gear if you have a big lead out and your speed is high enough to roll it to the line.

You optimal gear to be in is one which allows you to ride at roughly the same cadence you might train in. There is no sense in grinding 52*11 at 60 Rpm. Try and find your optimal cadence.

Another thing, remember that in your first race it is not uncommon to get dropped. Dont despair, keep racing and you will be amazed at how quickly you improve from week to week. It also gives you the motivation to go out training.There is nothing better than racing a fast crit and surviving.

By the way the throwing the hands up in the air comment was a joke.

Re: Criterium Racing...Any hints?

Start on the big chainring and leave it there. You should be able to get away from the start ok on say, 19 or 21 on the rear ie. 2 or 3 from the top. Move to what feels comfortable once you get going. Use gears low enough to allow you to respond to the surges and accelerations out of the corners. A lot depends on the circuit as to how and what gears you use. If you can, ride the circuit before-hand so you can get a bit of an idea. In any case get there early so you can familiarise yourself and make sue you are well warmed up before the start.

There could be an early surge and if you are cold you might not be able to stay with it. Stay near the front and take your turn but don’t be a hero and over do it. If the field splits, try to stay with or bridge to the leading group. Ride with your hands on the drops. Riding with your hands on the hoods is less stable and it’s too easy to loose your grip in bumpy corners etc. Keep forward on the drops though so you can reach the levers ok. Find out how to “apex” corners properly if you don’t already know and practice on the circuit beforehand. Do not be tempted to pedal in corners even if it feels ok in practice. At race speed it will bring you undone.

Don’t eat too much before the start and just have plain water in your bottle. The race will probably only be 30 minutes so you won’t run out of fuel and probably won’t need or be able to drink more than half a bottle of water anyway.


Good Luck Jay.

Re: Criterium Racing...Any hints?

I was going to add my 2c worth (plus GST), but I think everyone has put in adequate info.


Let us know how you went mate...

Re: Criterium Racing...Any hints?

My two cents,

don't be intimidated by any egos or 'big' personalities in the bunch, and don't bother wondering where you fit in the 'pecking order.' If you have the legs, go for it. By all means attack whenever you want to. It's not like Manolo Sainz is in the team car screaming at you that he will dock your pay for not obeying team orders. There is little to be lost and everything to be gained by finding the limits of your own capabilities. Who knows, you just might surprise yourself!

My advice (even though I sucked in a criterium last night, must be this chest cold...*cough*) is to follow wheels for the first 2/3, 3/4 of the race. Be conservative and efficient, let others take the wind and have their day in the sun; in the last part of the race just start attacking relentlessly. You'll be surprised what might happen. In my case, a big crater in the road, but hopefully you're feeling better than I am at the moment.


Oh, and another useful tip is to pay attention to when the mid race sprints are on. If the race is 30 minutes +3 laps (like ours), with sprints at ten and twenty minutes, then set your little computer to zero and keep an eye on the upcoming sprint. Stick to the wheel (or not too far away) of the those contesting it, but don't actually try and win it yourself. You've got bigger fish to fry... AFTER they have smashed themselves to pieces trying to win the sprint, ATTACK IMMIDIATELY. Unless they are dressed in a white/green/gold, or worse still, have little green/yellow/black/red/blue stripes on their sleeves, then you are very likely to get a huge gap. Don't give up, because even if they do manage to pull you back, they have put holes in their lungs trying to do it.

It's all about the pain.

F.