8ounce

Hi, first off let me apologize in advance if this question should of went straight away in the race forum.
In crit races how long does the last sprint usually last. 30 seconds...45? over 1 minute. Also would do cat 5 racers average for the final sprint.
I wanted to simulate a crit style training routine with a final sprint and was curious.

Thanks for any info

PCS2

I'd say depends, but the ones I've been in 10-20s.

1 minute isn't my idea of a sprint.

mkadam68

200--250 yards.

ultraman6970

The issue in criterium sprints is that the group goes already pretty fast for the last 200 to 300 meters. But it depends on the criterium too. For cat 5 i would be more aware of finish the race w/o any accidents than getting a win

sqharaway

When you're off the front, the entire race, because Cat 5's don't know how to pull through!

Bob Dopolina 

When the gun goes "bang" start sprinting. Keep sprinting as needed until the race is run.

If you did it right they give you stuff.

I got a pineapple once.

roadwarrior

A pineapple? Cool.

Pcad got a little plastic trophy once and didn't even finish on the podium. I think it was the "Self-Esteem Crit" where everyone got a trophy.

roadwarrior

Truer words were never spoken. In lower cat races, because they don't sprint in straight lines they take 200 yards and turn it into a quarter mile.

botto 

how long is a piece of string?

pdedes

25 pedal strokes

roadwarrior

In a 53x15?

bbattle

8ounce

A violin string would probably be around 1 1/2 to 3 feet long. A long bow string about 3 to 4 feet. A kite string can go between 100 feet to 500 feet long.
I didnt ask how long sprints last in general of all sports and all events, just specifically the final sprint of a cat 5 crit. And just to be clear I was not looking for a specific answer such as exactly153 metres each and everytime. Just more of a general idea.
Thanks for the answers all

RacerOne

Usually under 300 meters.

merlinextraligh

For your crit training you want to do several things.

Assuming you already have a good base, you want to work on short very intense efforts, and quick recovery.

So intervals like 30 seconds on 30 seconds off for a set of 10 are good for crits.

One minute intervals are also good for crits.

I'd concentrate on the short intervals before I worried too much about the sprint. You have to be there at the end for it to matter.

To work on your sprint, do it on a seperate day. 15 second all out efforts, with lots of rest between, like 5-10 minutes, will work on your sprint.

caloso

You can also do Tabata intervals, which are 8 sets of 20sec. all out effort, 10 sec. of rest. They hurt. A lot.

I also like Cavendish intervals:

Find a gentle hill that allows you to soft pedal down so that when you hit the bottom you're doing at least 24 mph. I use an overpass because I live in the flats. When you hit the bottom, sprint all out to your finish line. You want to sprint farther than you actually would in a race, so I try to sprint for 200m. Repeat ad vomitum.

CbadRider

Moved from Road to Road Racing.

Bob Dopolina 

Honestly this isn't a bad answer.

If I get a chance to preride a course one of the things I'll do is to pick certain points on the course (including the finish), decide what gear I would be attacking/sprinting in and ride the course backwards in that gear until I got to about 25. Then I would pick a landmark like a tree, poll, mailbox etc. and note that as the place to go.

It's most useful in crits.

topflightpro

This often depends on the course.

We have a Tuesday night race series on a 4/10 mile, banked oval speedway. Generally, the pace starts picking up with 3 laps to go and increases all the way to the sprint.

If you want to win there, you have to start your sprint with about a half lap to go - i.e. 2/10 of a mile.

In another annual race around here, the sprint starts after the final turn and lasts about 200 m. But, you have to be in the front five or six with half a lap to go, when the road narrows, to be in a good position coming out of turn four.

merlinextraligh

Most of the Cat 5 races I did, and have observed, do the opposite. The pace starts to drop with about 2 to go. At that point, everyone has figured out nothing is getting away, no one is working for anyone else, and everyone is trying to save their effort for the sprint.

Somewhere around half a lap to go, the pace has fallen so slow, people get anxious and take off, the guys on the front get swamped, and its a cluster****.

jeebusaurousrex

Familiarity of the course is definitely a huge advantage. Scope out the terrain in the last 1k meters, see if there are any inclines, declines, bends, turns, etc. Set visual markers for 500 down to 200 meters.

CDR also had a great analysis of pro sprints. Too lazy to dig it up, but that would be a good post to revive.

wanders

Yes. The one that details his first kermesse is great. I looked for it but couldn't find it. Second greatest story ever told.

caloso

This has been my experience too.

kensuf

The sprints I win usually last at least 10-15 minutes in length.

YMCA

Why do I keep coming back to this place?

How long does a sprint last? Seriously?