Coach's Tips for... UMD President's Cup

[ed: Here's another article by BJ Basham, part of the series called "Coach's Tips for... ", in which BJ will give you all the inside track on how to race a specific event. BJ knows all these races, and he probably also knows most of the racers hellbent on beating you at them. If you like BJ's contributions, let him know in the Comments section below. You can even ask him questions in the comments, which he'll answer there as well.

Note: This article was first published in 2007 and is re-published here for those of you us who didn't win at UMD last year and are still trying to get it right.]

Coach's Tips for... UMD President's Cup
by BJ Basham
USA Cycling Level II Certified Coach

“.70 miles with 3 90 degree turns, a tight technical chicane and wide open finish…” That is what the flyer says and this is what you should be reading into it:

• .7 miles = Short fast course with not much place for recovery. Get in a good warm-up so you are ready to rock from the gun.

• 3 90 degree turns and a tight technical chicane = Being too far back could mean a very short race. Start at the front and stay in the front third of the field. Remember that as the race goes on, the field will be getting smaller and you need to be looking for places to move up all the time.

• Wide open finish = Everyone will want to sprint so you need to be up front to avoid the mayhem.  If you are going to try and win in the sprint, then rehearse the finish by going for prime early in the race. If you are going to try to win off the front, attack in the hardest part of the course.

• Plenty of chances to show off for your friends and family = Efforts without a competitive purpose are a waste of energy. Ok this one is not on the flyer, but it applies to every race. There is no competitive reason so sit on the front and grind away pulling the field lap after lap. Wouldn’t everyone you know be more impressed with a good result compared to the fact that you led 3 laps in the beginning of the race before being spit out the back?

Have fun. Bike racing is fun.

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BJ Basham is a USA Cycling Level II Certified Coach with Peaks Coaching Group. He lives in Faifax, VA and competes in most of the same races you do. To learn more about his coaching practice and philosophy, just email him.

Comments

[Sam]

Can you get BJ to weigh in on Strasburg, the other race this weekend... as far as what the flyer claims (parking warnings excluded)?

[Brian B.]

Good read.

[Kyle]

Actually BJ has this course all wrong. It has plenty of places to rest. And you want to show boat to all your friends and family by showing how strong you are for 4 laps, 3 laps would be crazy. Especially if your team takes up a third of the field. Ride the front the whole time. Plus bike racing is not fun.