Hi all,

I'm doing a crit this weekend that has a duration set in minutes (40min) instead of distance (e..g 15 miles or 40laps,etc ) as I'm used to seeing.

I feel like distance is a hard target so it's not that difficult to predict and expect how the race will play out. Whereas with time, beyond the initial few minutes, do people tend to just settle in like a group ride and drag out the time? Or will I not see any differences?

Thanks.

Ed

I'm assuming this is a cat. 5 crit since you are new to the format. If so, expect a bunch of small surges and a big bunch sprint for the finish. With the rare exception, that's how most of the beginner category races seem to go down.

I'm assuming this is a cat. 5 crit since you are new to the format. If so, expect a bunch of small surges and a big bunch sprint for the finish. With the rare exception, that's how most of the beginner category races seem to go down.

That's correct. I'm Cat 5 (not for long :) ). If I read you correctly, the actual race scenario of time vs distance is not that different?

That's correct. I'm Cat 5 (not for long :) ). If I read you correctly, the actual race scenario of time vs distance is not that different?

Correct. They will begin counting you down with either 5 or 3 laps to go.

Whats the lap distance? They'll time the first 15-25 minutes and count down laps based on those times.

The only difference is in tracking how much race is remaining. Instead of watching lap counters, you need to check your computer or watch to see how much time has elapsed.

Usually big teams (though only occasionally in the 5's), will really ramp up the speed on the first few laps in order to lengthen the race (if the first laps are faster, the judges will base the last laps on the shorter times and when the race slows down, the race will be slightly longer). A longer race favors large teams wheras a shorter race favors the lone racer who needs to fend for himself.

If you're strong & it's a cat 5 crit, then try to get off the front later in the race & finish alone or with a break. Then you'll avoid last-lap-last-turn-itis that's common in hectic finishes.

If you're strong & it's a cat 5 crit, then try to get off the front later in the race & finish alone or with a break. Then you'll avoid last-lap-last-turn-itis that's common in hectic finishes.
Unless your last name is Mercx, a break won't succeed. Every 5 wants to be at the front of the race, but none of them can bridge. Everyone tears off their legs just to catch anyone who tries to get away.

Unless your last name is Mercx, a break won't succeed. Every 5 wants to be at the front of the race, but none of them can bridge. Everyone tears off their legs just to catch anyone who tries to get away.

Yeah, I'd agree, in the traditional sense of a "breakaway"

But it's common to have a few strong 5's who either whittle the pack down to a handful of guys, or manage to get a split and keep it. Much depends on the course; if it's flat, no wind, non-technical of course it's harder to do that.

+1 whoever said try a late flyer.

Frequently 5's will hammer past the bell and around the back of the course, then just before the last corner ease up a bit... that's the time to keep your momentum and fly.

.

Yeah, I'd agree, in the traditional sense of a "breakaway"

But it's common to have a few strong 5's who either whittle the pack down to a handful of guys, or manage to get a split and keep it. Much depends on the course; if it's flat, no wind, non-technical of course it's harder to do that.

+1 whoever said try a late flyer.

Frequently 5's will hammer past the bell and around the back of the course, then just before the last corner ease up a bit... that's the time to keep your momentum and fly.

.

Yep, when I was a 4, I won a couple of Cat 4/5 crits with a late flyer. You have to wait 'til everyone eases off, when the guys on the front realise they don't want to be on the front just yet (since every cat 5 things they can sprint). When they slow up, and somebody hesitates to pull through, attack as hard as you can go, get the gap, and try and hold it to the line.

Another trick is when the guy(s) on front sit up or ease off, the slowing ripples back through the field. If you're sitting 5 or 6 riders back you can carry your momentum into the attack while the guys in front are slowing down. It makes it very hard for anybody on front to counter, and they guys behind won't be expecting it and will also have to deal with the guys on front re-accelerating and swinging out to chase you.

The thing about the lower category races, is that there are a lot of guys with little more than group ride experience who think they are going to just ride everyone off their wheel by taking hard pulls at the front.

Cat 5 races are notorious for inneffective attacks, and fields that won't let anything get away. If you've got team mates, or other guys you know in the field who are willing to get in a break and work together, breaks can and will be successful. While the cat 5s will tend to chase down everything, there will not likely be (m)any organized team tactics to help chase down a break that is working efficiently together.

Back to the OPs question, the race shouldn't play out any differently whether it's raced by time or raced by # of laps or distance. It'll be roughly the same length of race either way.

Yup. That's what I learned last yr. This yr, when I see a chance w/ a lap or 2 to go, I'll be gone, esp if it involves a downhill (most cat 5's can't descend to save their lives.....)

I have not yet started racing as I'm still getting into shape, but I have been watching a TON of local races and stuff on TV. Basically all I've seen from cat 5's is a big group killing it at the begining and dropping a good 10 people in the first few laps. Then generally that group will stay together till the end with the acception of a few failed attemps at breaking away. Since there are no real teams at cat 5 there are no team tactics. Everyone is in it for themselves so chances are you won't be able to break away from the main group. 90% of people that are winning those races (that I have seen) are sitting in the middle of the pack drafting and conserving energy till the last couple laps. Most races I've seen you have a couple new guys pulling the group the entire race and they gas out and can't keep up at the end. So like everyone before me said when the group eases up on the back side of the track keep your momentum up and hit it hard on the last lap or two to try and create a gap. Then just hope you can keep it and sprint your ass off at the end. Most cat 4 and 5 races I've watched all come down to a sprint.

Hi all,

Thanks for the info. The race was earlier today, and here's a brief recap...

- About 8 laps in (.4mile per lap), the ref put up 30 laps to go
- 1 lap later, the lap marker changed to 36...so they must have underestimated initially.
- As always, it was hard and fast the first few lap. The peloton shelled about 10 guys in no time.
- By around 15-18laps in, the pace settled down with surges out of corners and occasional hard-braking because whomever was at the front at that time decided not to pull anymore.
- headwind at start/finish and especially into the first turn. So my goal was to sit in on the front-side and make all my moves on the back with tailwind.
- The "home" team was 13 strong vs. the avg. 3 in every other team...one of my teammate decided to try to cover moves that looked dangerous (i.e. the home team doing TTT off the front).
- I chased down a move that looked good, but the two guys sat up as soon as I got there (which was half-lap ahead of the peleton). I needed a sec to catch my breath, but they had already given up. So we just sat up and went back into the field. Like everyone said, C5's breakaway usually don't stick. Besides, the move was with 22laps to go, so the likelihood of it sticking was next to none anyway.
- With 3 laps to go, the refs rang the bell (~mile to go) and anyone that had any legs left tried to move up.
- Going into the last turn, I was boxed in on the inside and had no were to go.

- Overall, Avg. 26mph and max (sprint at the end) was 33mph
- Field size was in the low-40s (I believe) and I eeked out a 14th. Probably would have done better if not boxed in. May be next time! :)

All in all it was a good race and learned plenty. :)