Professional Cycling

This primer outlines the general tactics any cyclist can use to perform better in a race. Whether you race on the road, off-road, or the track this guide provides fundamental knowledge.

Always be aware
Many riders are not aware of their surroundings. You must be comfortable riding with and around others and aware of where other riders are in relationship to yourself. If you are uncomfortable riding in the group then you will not be as effective in carrying out race tactics. Remember, your actions will affect the riders around you.

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Winning an event is the ultimate result but it often depends as much on the opposition as it does on you. Since there is nothing you can do about how your competitors ride the only approach left is to concentrate on yourself and the things you can control during your preparation.

People often under-perform because of a lack of thorough preparation. They have plenty of talent but will have peak fitness at the wrong time or be injured or tired and unable to deliver when the big day comes along. And it is often the case that even when they get it right physically they fall short because they did not prepared themselves mentally and physically to be the a “winner” but merely to ‘do my best’. This attitude can sometimes produce a good result but not very often. It often seems that at bigger events the top results will go the athletes who have prepared well and expect to win. This involves mental as well as physical preparation. Here are the 10 key areas to focus on in your preparation.

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Motivation is the best friend a bike rider can have. It drives you on both good days and bad and always serves as the driving force behind your desire to succeed. Motivation keeps you going when all else fails and is a key ingredient in progress and development. Motivation is produced by the regular sense of satisfaction and accomplishment that follows your hard work and dedication.

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The importance and value of a training diary cannot be overstated. The progress you make in your training and the success you have in competition will be a direct result of the structure of your training activities and preparation. This includes everything about your athletic lifestyle like workouts, diet, sleep and recovery, and the specifics of your daily training activities. I like to put to my riders this way.

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