Mistake #2: Over-focusing on the Course and Not the Other Racers
In any mass start event you are affected by the terrain BUT you race OTHER RACERS. Too many people that start racing over focus on the course and its terrain and layout and forget to pay attention to other riders.
Some Suggestions:You need to observe others ON THE COURSE and ON TERRAiN to better understand how they ride, how tired they are, how they can beat you (and how you can beat them). A few tricks:
1. Look around on short climbs later in the race – Many riders really "show" fatigue on short climbs later in races. Look to see who is really suffering and who is not. Use this knowledge to improve your odds. If you are strong but watching a good percentage of the group suffering, talk to some of the other riders going well and plan a strong push on the next riser to get rid of those suffering.
2. Look at THEM, how do they look? Look at their bike? Yes, there bike. Is their water bottle full? Have they been drinking and eating?
More: 9 Ways to Make Riding in the Morning Easier
Mistake #3: Attacking When Things Are Easy
OK, this one a lot of people might know but I cannot tell you the numbers of times I have reviewed files from smart racers that get "impatient" and attack when things are easy and cruising along. The reality is that, if things are just cruising down the road, everyone is ready to attack. Typically this means they have caught their breath and will be quick to respond and chase.
Some Suggestions:Learn to attack when things are hard, this is a big key to success. I know, I know, it hurts?suck it up buttercup this is bike racing and if you want to win, it will hurt.
When things are going hard and you attack or make a move, many riders will sit back hoping others will do the work to chase you as they do an internal "gut-check" on just how demoralizing that flyer you just took was. This doesn't mean that catching everyone sitting up for a second and throwing down a little surprise cannot work but much better hitting them when it hurts.
Summary
There are plenty of ways to use these tips, my goal was to just point out some key areas of mistakes and give you food for thought. Obviously, you need to be fit enough to handle the demands of the race event AND implement your strategy to win.
More: Circuit Training Workouts for Cyclists
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