Cycling Tactics 101: Am I helping my team right now?
Written by Russell
Thursday, 22 January 2009 15:08
Cycling tactics are an endless discussion. It's impossible to cover all scenarios that may occur in a bike race. There are an infinite amount of possibilities. I can't think of any other sport as dynamic as road cycling. When people ask what I love about cycling, I compare it to running a marathon and playing poker at the same time. The mental component of cycling is on par with playing chess or poker but the decisions must be made instantaneously. And they are made during absolute physical suffering. And unlike most team sports, we all play each other at the same time. How can this not be the greatest sport in the world?
There are not a lot of absolute rules when it comes to tactics. But I'll share one today. At all times in a race you should be helping your team. I am assuming you are racing for a team and using teamwork. If you're not on a team, I highly recommend joining one and working together. Alone, cycling is a sport of failure. It's hard to win a bike race and the odds are against you. By joining a team you can affect the race and be a part of success on a regular basis. It's also safer for everyone. During the race, ask yourself, "Am I helping my team right now?" At all times in a bike race you should be helping your team. Helping the team could be working in a breakaway, sitting on a breakaway, chasing down breaks, leading out a sprinter, helping a climber get positioned in the field, or even conserving energy at the back of the field. There is no limit to the duties you may fill in a road race. Yet, if you and your teammates commit to this mission, you will find success. This is your mission statement and plan for all races. The next steps are to figure out how to answer that question if you are not sure in certain situations. More on that coming soon.