recneps

Ive got a C race this weekend and I think I can do really well in the C race possibly win it. But theres the B race that will be a much better workout with less riders and I will get a much better workout.

The C race is 31 miles.
The B race is 46 miles.

And ill have ~45 minutes between races.


What would you do?

A: Race the C race as hard as possible and try to win it putting in some big work?
B: Sit in the C race and do work the last 2 miles to sprint it out then rest eat and race the B race and try not to get dropped.
C: just race the B race and try to do as well as possible.

I think I will probably get dropped in the B race but If I do stick in I will be much better prepared for 4 and 3 races later in the season. 77miles of racing in one day seems like it could be very painful I havnt done that many miles since an early january century and I'm not sure if I'm going to have the legs. It dosnt cost any more to do the B race I only have to pay for one race.

DrWJODonnell

If both are training races, race hard in both. You will learn what you are made of, and different races present different opportunities. Of course if you feel that physically you cannot complete that many miles (even considering being in a peloton and drafting) then just get the better workout.

branman1986

I do alot better in 2-a-day races...I really hurt the next day, but I always feel a lot looser for the 2nd race of the day and can push myself a lot harder.

recneps

They're not training races but only the first one I race will be scored, IE only the C race and I will not be scored in the B race.

It is a circuit race of only 8 miles so If I do get dropped I can just complete ~4 miles.

spunky

I just had the same situation a couple of weeks ago. I raced a 4/5 crit followed by a Masters crit. The whole time during the 4/5 race, I kept concerning myself with saving some gas for the Masters. As a result, I didn't place as well as I could have and didn't push as hard as I should have. I hung on in the Masters and finished mid pack. Therefore, I ended up compromising my rides and lost out on some points. If I did it again, I would go for the win in the easy race and see what I'm made of in the last one. If you get shelled in the second race, at least you can say you worked hard in the first one and placed.

Lithuania

race both

MDcatV

If you have the time and there's no additional cost, race them both. If the "C" race is a Cat5 race, it'll probably be a sprint finish anyway, so just race it smart. Make sure you hydrate and take in enough calories starting a few days before your races as well as day of, and dont let yourself "cool down" too much between the races.

Stallionforce

Put it all into the C race. Always try to win if you've got a shot. You'll have something left over for the B race I'm sure.

TheKillerPenguin

race both, and be sure to keep your legs spinning in between them.