Originally Posted by
Duke of Kent
Oddly enough, damn near every Pro/1/2 and 3's race I've been in or seen this year has had a break go off, and stay off the front to take the top placings. Very few mass sprints for the win.
So yes, while a good sprint will help you in the 4s and 5s, once you hit the 3s, you better have the engine to make and stick it in a break. Unless you have an absolutely incredible team who will chase down anyone that even sniffs still air and provides a wicked leadout, you gotta be able to burn for a long time.
Agree with this in a race situation, however having a sprint also means having tactical speed necessary to GET in a break in higher cats. So we are talking about more than just winning field sprints. In domestic racing no sprint/speed = defensless. Racing a lot will develop the necessary recovery in leau of specific LT or interval training. But you need to train your body very specifically to gain acceleration and top speed.
We are riding Crits not grand tours.