Surrey League Race Training
Throughout the day we worked on different aspects of bunched riding/racing with such activities as having one group chasing another group, closing and filling gaps, speed (or sometimes the lack of it) through corners- and the implications this would have on them and other rides, infiltrating and moving through a bunch, breaking away and sprinting. Where relevant, these drills were all carried out individually and/or in groups.
Towards the end of the session, as the riders were becoming more competent, we progressed on to some race simulation activities. This would either be having small groups or teams working together, whilst all in one big bunch, to either breakaway, chase attacks or work for a sprint finish and to set up their designated sprinter- all depending on their pre-race brief. Giving each rider even a simple task in these sessions meant they couldn’t just plough on regardless, they had to think about their teammates, ride conservatively and be aware of what was happening not just around them, but also elsewhere on the track.
Another session would be the Devil Takes the Hindmost in which the last rider across the finish line is eliminated from the race. Once down to 5 riders left there would be a sprint finish. This session is ideal for riders to think about their positioning, judging their efforts, riding closely to others, sprinting and possible the most important part, filling and sliding through gaps left in the bunch!
The day finished with a longer debrief at which point there were opportunities to go over the points of the day and any other questions, queries or feedback that the riders wanted to go over or discuss.
One key point that we did pick up from these sessions, is how vast the different abilities are from rider to rider. The majority of the riders we have had on our coursers were all considering racing in the very near future, with a large chunk of them having never raced before. Even some of those who had raced, seemed to be picking up things, that they either thought they already had nailed or hadn’t even thought of. So hopefully everybody took something away with them and everything we covered will be carried on into their next event.
All of our sessions and briefings were carried out on the track itself. Other courses do have sit down sessions or lectures, however we preferred to cover as many basics of bunched riding and racing as we could. All the riders were given the opportunity to have follow up sessions which will cover more specific areas of racing and tactics or could contact either myself or Michael for more one on one coaching and guidance and training advice, should they wish to.
Getting riders who want to race, to pre-ride and practice group riding and racing techniques, with experience coaches on hand all day, is surely only a good thing and is something that looks to be opened up across the country and not to just those racing local events in the South.
Surrey League
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