I think what I mean by that is you need to be a decient rider who has the raw strength and power to be able to do the jumps and sprints, etc. For example many people I hear, oh I can leg press 500 pounds, etc. Well when I started I could do 235 lb (and I weighed 250 pounds). I was not strong at all and it lacked in my power, etc.

I have found now after 10 races and finally being able to hang at race pace is that it has to do alot with anaerobic work and sprinting. Age does not matter to a point. My father could kick my butt in lower body stuff still and he is 50. He has worked a labor type job for years. It all depends on your background and what type of rider you are. Take someone who has never done an endurance activity (like me) and throw then into a race after only a few months on a bike and see what happens, 90 percent of the time they get dropped.

Some people it takes much longer than others also. How were you as a rider before going and racing? How long have you riden your bike. How is your current fitness level? What kind of course was it (hilly or flat)? What was the weather like? It all plays a key in how you do as a bike racer.

(I have increased my average speed by about 3.5 MPH in the last 4 months, that is what it took me to get in race shape. I also learned to suffer.)