Written by 08:25 Analysis

Breaking down the bunch sprints – What goes through the mind of a sprinter?

The sprint stages may not be the most entertaining ones to watch on TV. However, the final part is always extremely hectic. Below, I’ll try to explain what’s going on on the final kilometers in order to give you a better understanding of this stressful part of the stage.

10 km to go
The last 10 km always go by so quickly. Before that, you have time to think and talk with the other riders but not with 10 km left to go. At this point, in general, it’s quite crucial that you’re in a good position already or at least are making your way into a good position. You’re not going to drink or eat anymore. Maybe one last sip but that’s it. Toss the bottle. Personally, I like to be amongst the first 30 riders with 10 km to go. If possible, maybe even try to move up a little bit but without wasting any energy.

5 km
This is when the alarm bells start ringing. You see the whole peloton being on edge, even guys who aren’t really sprinters. It’s do or die time. You know you’ll be riding at 60 km/h per hour so it’s just a five minutes effort but it’s always a big fight for positions. You may think you’re on a good wheel but then suddenly it all gets re-shuffled and you find yourself at the back of the line. This happens multiple times. The GC riders are up there too. Even with less than 3 km to go they are still there, getting in the way of the sprinters. Of course you respect them, everybody is doing his own race, but they can be a bit of a nuisance.

3 km
Since I’ve never had a full team around me, dictating the pace and leading me out, I’m always in about 10th position or further back with 3 km to go. I just try to concentrate on holding my position and not let anybody take the wheel I’m on. When a gap opens up, you only have a split second to decide if it’s worth using the energy to go into and if it will set you up for a better position. Usually though, you’re at the limit at this point and you don’t have any energy to do make calculated decisions. It’s all a blur. Furthermore, you’re touching people all the time; elbows, back, sides. You’re also on the brakes the whole time because somebody may touch wheels. From the TV-images, it’s hard to see but it’s extremely stressful with a lot of bumping around and a lot of shouting. It’s a rush. You either like or you don’t.

2 km
When you hit that 2 km mark, it’s really full blown tunnel-vision. Now, you don’t think about the consequences. Those who aren’t sprinters do think about it and that shows. A lot of guys who are really good bike riders just aren’t there anymore. Either because they don’t like that rush or because they get scared.

1 km
On the last kilometer, it’s absolute chaos. You just see blur of riders everywhere. Guys who have been leading out others are dropping back, so you have to avoid them but at the same time you’re also trying to find a gap moving forward or simply just trying to hold the wheel in front of you.

500 meters
This is when you start looking at the “to-go” signs. I know pretty much what I think I’m capable of. It all depends on the race. In my mind, I know that 200 meters to go is “go time” for me but you have to be able to adapt. If a gap opens up with 250 meters to go or if somebody shoots off with 300 meters to go you have to be ready to go with it.

250 meters
Here is another thing you might not get from the TV-images. Right before people start their sprints there is this silent moment. It’s not really hesitation it’s more everybody wondering “is it time to go, now?” at the exact same time. It goes by so quickly but in every sprint I’ve done, I’ve felt that moment amongst the guys up there. It’s like the eye of the storm. Silence and then everybody breaks out sprinting.

200 meters
Ideally, this is when I launch my sprint. It’s also a quite treacherous moment. In your mind, you only think “I’ve got to move forward. I’ve got to move forward”. You may picture a gap somewhere and go to the right to pass a rider but then a leadout rider is dropping back and you have to slam your brakes and start all over again. Your heart rate is out of control. It’s a complete mess. If you’re not amongst the first three riders at this point, all you think about is to find a gap to move forward. Anything could be happening in the world at this moment but it’s all completely irrelevant. All that matters right now is your sprint.

Crossing the line
Despite all the cheering from the fans and everything else going on, you don’t really hear a thing beside brakes and gear-changes until the moment you cross the finishing line. Then, it all comes rushing in like a massive wave and you hear the crowd. This is also the first time you start to think properly again. First, I make a quick count of the guys in front of me in order to find out where I finished. Then, I start to dissect the sprint. If I haven’t won I instantly start thinking about what I could have done better. Usually, you already know that – unless it’s simply because you didn’t have the legs that day. Afterwards, I spend the time it takes me to ride to the bus to turn the page and lookforwards to the next sprint opportunity. Maybe I’ve spotted somebody being much faster than I expected him to be. If so, I make a mental note to look out for his wheel in the next sprint. In the bus, it’s all about recovery and getting ready for the following day.

Photo Massimo Paolone- LaPresse

Photo Fabio Ferrari – LaPresse

Foto Fabio Ferrari – LaPresse

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Last modified: Jan 20, 2020
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