Road Bike Racing - I just dont understand sprinting

I'm still a newbie to cycling. It interests me a lot, and I have been trying to learn/understand each and every aspect of strategy in the races, and why each thing happens the way it does.

I just don't get it. How could a rider be so strong that they can outsprint the whole field one day, yet get dropped on a small hill the next (or miss the time cut on a mountain stage)?

With sprinting, is it that the rider is able to go into a much greater debt of energy than a non-sprinter?
Its confusing seeing a rider seemingly burn off all of their energy through a stage/race, yet have much more left over for those final 300m.

If anyone is bored enough to explain this to me, it would be appreciated.
If I've confused you all, let me know and I'll try to better explain what I am asking.

Some people are best suited for sudden explosive bursts of speed, that dont last long periods of time.

Others are best suited for long grinding climbs that put pressure on your legs for hours at a time.

You can have strong lungs, or strong legs, both, or neither. Alot of the riders know that they have no chance at an over all win, so they chase the other races, within the race. The sprinters teams will draft and cover them, to help them save energy for the sprint sections. All the drafting in the world doesnt make climbing much easier. Gravity will always get you.

Even besides climbing, it seems some sprinters aren't exactly great TT riders. That makes me think 'whaaa?' sometimes.

It's the same for runners. Some are able to sprint really quickly but have trouble with distances. Some marathon runners probably couldn't sprint to save their lives.

It all depends on your body type and the fibres that make up your muscles.

It's a rare rider who can climb, sprint and time trial well.

Originally posted by brent_dube
Even besides climbing, it seems some sprinters aren't exactly great TT riders. That makes me think 'whaaa?' sometimes.

Time trials generally require one to put out a lot of power for a long period of time. Sprinters put out a tremendous amount of power for less than 300 meters.

Sprinters are usually big guys with a high ratio of fast twitch muscles. That gives them lots of bang for the 200 meter dash, but it's not conducive to long endurance efforts or climbing. But few climbers or diesels can sprint.

So, barring a long breakaway, a mountainous stage, or a TT, the sprinters will do the least amount of work, hiding in the draft of other riders, only to emerge at the end (and at intermediate primes) to collect the wins.

So its not that they have more energy, but that they have more energy to use at the moment? I'm guessing that they would be completely worn after a full sprint, right (moreso than a rider is at the end of a TT)?

I can sprint for say 400m at maximum power, but when it comes to prolonged power, I have nothing left after say 1km of high exertion.

Originally posted by brent_dube
So its not that they have more energy, but that they have more energy to use at the moment? I'm guessing that they would be completely worn after a full sprint, right (moreso than a rider is at the end of a TT)?
I think your first statement is basically true. Fast twitch muscles are better suited to relatively short bursts of explosive power. Having virtually no sprint capability, I can't speak from experience, but I doubt the effect is the same as a TT. The fast twitch muscles have the ability to perform better in the absence of oxygen, and using the nutrients, sugars, etc., they have stored. Like any workout, once the stores are depleted it takes time for the muscle to recover. After a TT, everything is gone... glycogen is depleted, muscles are stressed to their limits and the damage is deep, they're ready to cramp given any excuse, you've nearly puked on your shoes... it's a different deal.

Another thing is... the riders who get dropped on a climb seem to ALWAYS rejoin the peleton some km's later. It seems so odd to me. Almost seems like its fixed, the way they are able to catch back up (although I know it isnt...)

Originally posted by brent_dube
Another thing is... the riders who get dropped on a climb seem to ALWAYS rejoin the peleton some km's later. It seems so odd to me. Almost seems like its fixed, the way they are able to catch back up (although I know it isnt...)

They chase to get back.

Wait until the big mountain stages. They'll be riders strung out for miles at the finish.

Originally posted by Laggard
They chase to get back.



Yeah... its like... where do they get the energy to chase like that, since they just got dropped?

I know on the mountaintop finishes it is another story though.

When a rider gets dropped, they need some time to recover after a strenuous exertion. It's a lot of work to chase back on. But, if another rider (or several) get dropped, they take turns pulling to chase back on!

L8R

What amazes me is that these guys can sprint to 45+ MPH after 5hrs in the saddle! I can make it upto 38 - 40mph on fresh legs, but after just 20 miles, I cant get past 35mph in a sprint.

Don't you mean kph? Sprinting at 45+mph seems incredible fast

I was thinking that they could sprint up to 40mph max.
I really doubt they get above 45 on a flat sprint.

They do.