TNW Tip of the Week: Crit Sprint Position

Speed and skills come together to set yourself up for the final sprint. To win, you’ll need to be in the top 3-5 places coming out of the final corner. Unless there is a long finishing straight, the final corner generally determines the outcome. To get into the position you’ll need for the final corner, set-up begins laps earlier.

Remember the work we did on Team Strategy and Your Role in the Race? This is why it matters. Your lead-out riders are key in setting up the final turn. The best teams not only take turns on the front to keep their #1 in position, they cover the space behind to keep other riders off of that wheel. Stay on your #1 wheel and you’ll help your team’s placings by grabbing the #2 or #3 spot as well.

I do want to send out a hefty Thank You to our TNW skills coach, Shadd Smith of Team Think!Finance. He’s done an excellent job of putting these weekly lessons on wheels all season, riding with you and helping you perfect your technique at our Tuesday races. Kudos to all of you who have done the work and made significant gains for yourselves. Ride on!

Photo credit:  Team Think!Finance 2014