"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - two-man strategy

My friend and I have been riding together for a while. We have a similar endurance level, though he is a better climber and I, a better sprinter (I hate hills). We aren't with a club or team, but we would like to work together in some upcoming cat 5 races. What are some simple strategies or moves that we could talk about and work on that will benefit us in a race?

In Cat 5 races, the pack usually does not let anything get away. Depending on how strong you guys are, I would wait until 3/4 of the race is over and have one of you attack hard. The other one sits in the pack and waits for the hounds to catch them. When the pack catches on the second guy launch his attack. Wash, rinse. repeat. Another thing that could work is to practice lead-outs with each other. Hardly anyone uses them in cat 5 races and if you can really ramp up the speed on the last lap, they can be very effective.

Have him lead you out on the last 2 hills and you lead him on the last 2 flats. Usually, the whole pack in cat5'll be on one side of the road, with 1-2 guys in front drafting and everyone else spreading out behind them, try to look labored and slow on the other side of the road, like you're about to lose the draft. The moment the 2 of you are anywhere near the front, launch your attack and take off. The leading guys in the pack'll be too tired from pulling to catch up. The guys behind them will be too far away and on the wrong side of the road to latch on.

Are we talking Criteriums, Road Races or Circuit Races? Each has a differnt strategy that you can use and that is just the tip of the iceburg...

Criteriums

Flat Crits - Most Cat 4 and Cat 5's will let nothing get away as said ^^^ . The way to get off the front is to attack together when the pack is "sleeping", like after a prime sprint from 10 - 12 riders back. A two person breakaway is very likely to stay away in the last laps of a 4/5 race, less likely in a 5 but I have seen it. It is very hard in a flat crit to get away solo, and due to the short length (usually 30 minutes) the leaders generally will not get real tired unless you put them under severe pressure. More likely people who are hanging on the back will get dropped.

The attack counter strategy works but it is better with 3 or more because it can be quite draining to a two person group. You need to get a substantial lead also if you do not want to get swollowed up in the last lap.

Hilly crits- Hilly crits are more likly to be able to get away with the "climber" pulling the "sprinter" up the hills. It is a game, sprinter in front on the flats, climber pulling the hills. It is my experience that the peloton generally slows down significantly on a hill and you can use that to an advantage. The best attacks I have seen can also come on the slopes of a climb.

All Races - Lead outs. Depending on who is a stronger sprint it is possible to lead out the second rider. The first rider at a given point say 300m will start the sprint and the second guy gets on his wheel. It is a 100% effort to avoid people latching on the your sprinters wheel. Once clear the leadout man drops back and the sprinter comes around and it executed correctly gets the win. The "climber" can also take a high place by jumping on the sprinters wheel as he goes by if there is anything left.

Circuit Races
Unlike crits most attacks occur on the last lap, generally on the hill or other part that slows the peloton down. It really depends on the course and the terrain. All the other strategies are simular to crits. You can note that in a longer race like a circuit race the pace will generally be slower and attacks can sucede better than the very fast crits.

Road Races - Since I do not have any direct experience here you can read other posts.


Good Luck and I hope this has not been to confusing... :D

Wait for the sprint, get your head down, and try not to hit each other.


Ben, I love this reply! Those simple words should be tatooed on the brain of every Cat 5 racer out there.

agreed

Thanks all for the advice. We have have been working on lead outs a bit, and plan do do some more. We have a flat crit 10+ miles Aug 14th and a road race in October. We may do some crits in between.

Wait for the sprint, get your head down, and try not to hit each other.

Cat5 guys should practice mass sprints with their training buddies. Learn how to how to bump and get bumped and not to overreact when it happnes. The overreaction is what causes alot of the accidents. Oh and guys who sprint too early and run out of gas and sit up in the middle of it before the line. I remember hating that the most.

I like the leadout idea the best for two guys working together. Not only the finishes, but the primes as well (if there are any). Split the winnings.

AAARRRGH. I hate them. Hate. Them. They go crazy-mad to position themselves in the top 10 for the sprint, and then either run out of gas or get scared and sit up. Usually right in my face as I'm winding up the old 53-13. What's the ****ing point?

Not to be a pain Ben, but whenever I would go back to my old coach with this reason for a bad result he would inevitably ask me "why were you on his wheel". Food for thought.

Because I'm not strong enough to lead out the sprint, and never will be, because I have 'last 100 metres explosive acceleration' physiology.

What would be his answer to that response? :)

He (I) wasn't suggesting sprinting from the front, although that is sometimes a valid strategy. The point of the question is you may be better off a few places back, and on the wheel of a known good finisher. For the most part we know who they are, or can do a little scouting during the race, who is riding strong (primes, chasing, ect)? The wheel you are on is a choice, treat it as such.

In other words "Who" you are on is almost as improtant as "Where" you are.