GamJams.net: Where Mid-Atlantic bike racers roll: Coach's Tips For... Fort Ritchie Criterium

[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.]

Coach's Tips for... Fort Ritchie Criterium
by BJ Basham
USA Cycling Level II Certified Coach

This is a new course on the MABRA program. Joe did have a race at Ft Ritchie about 6 years ago, but I think that was on the base and all I remember from that was the tank that pulled on the course during one of the races.

This course looks totally exciting and similar to Reston with plenty of speed and lots of corners. Richmond has the "Go Fast Turn Left" races and we have the "Go Fast, Turn Left, Right, Right, Left, Right, chicane Left, Hard Right" race at Ft Ritchie. So what does that mean to the riders who want to win? Lets look at the course in pieces.

1. The Start. This will be an all out drag race to the first turn to be in position for the quick left, right, right, left. Riders at the front will be able to carry their speed and choose their line. Riders at the back will be on the gas and then hard on the brakes and then hard on the gas, using up that precious energy. Coaching tip. Start at the front.

2. The sweeping right hander into the stretch at the far side of the lake. This is where some riders will be able to make up for their mistakes, but in most of the race with big fields, the front of the field will stay on the gas and string it out. Coaching tip. Pay attention. If you get gapped in the first bunch of corners and are closing back to the field, keep your head up. If the front riders sit up just a second, you may end up slamming into the back of the accordian. When you do close the gap, carry your speed and pass as many riders as you can before the next turn. Don't try to weave your way up the middle of the field. Pay attention to the wind direction and go up on the protected side.

3. The hard right turn into the chicane. This is where the speed is going to go up, especially on prime laps and the finish. The chicane will make for a challenge when it comes to moving up because the field will take the shortest line and likely pinch you off on the curb. Coaching tip. Be near the front going into the right hander before the chicane and then follow the line. If you do need to move up, be sure you can complete the move before getting pinched. After the first couple laps, you will know what line the field will follow and you will have an idea of the side you should and should not try to move up on.

4. The final turn. This thing looks tight. Kind of like the last turn at Williamsport. If the surface is good and the road tilts in the right direction it will be a no brainer, but if the road is off camber, you may need to scrub a bunch of speed to get through safe and quick. Coaching tip. Pre-ride the course and try this corner at speed and using different lines. If you are too far back in this corner, you may find it really hard to re-accelerate over and over again.

5. The final straight. This looks pretty straightforward and pretty long so the race will not be over until you cross the line. The final turn is important, but if you are not first through the turn, you can still make up ground in the sprint. Coaching tip. Practice for the finish by going for some of the primes. Maybe not kill yourself to win them, but get up there and lean what works.

6. The whole race. This looks like a challenging course and without actually riding it, I would guess that some of the races will come down to a field sprint and some will break up with a group getting up the road. The tight turns after the start finish present a good opportunity for a small group to get out of sight and for their teammates to slow the chase. If you are sprinter, you need to stay up front to save your energy and to react if the field does break up. If you are not a sprinter, then you need to break the field field up by driving the pace or attacking hard. Like the Reston GP course, this loop does not look conducive to a parade around the parking lot. This is a challenging and exciting course that will let many different kinds of riders have a go to make the race into what works best for them. Coaching tip: RACE!!! Do something to have a positive affect on the race.

Be safe.

BJ Basham is a USA Cycling Level II Certified Coach with Peaks Coaching Group. He lives in Fairfax, VA and competes in most of the same races you do. To learn more about his coaching practice and philosophy, visit his website at PowerTrainingCoach.com.