NEW 3rd EDITION!

Strategy & Tactics for Cyclists

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Also by Arnie Baker, M.D.

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Dr. Baker notes, there are three kinds of riders at the end of a race . . .

• Those who say: "What happened?"

• Those who let it happen.

• Those who made it happen.

This eBook is all about making it happen!

Strategy & Tactics is geared to road racing cyclists, of course, but many of its tips and tricks can be used in competitive outings such as club rides and fast centuries. This eBook also will be enlightening to fans of the sport who want to understand more about the racing they see on TV or in person.

Topics include the gamut of tactics and techniques known to the best racing cyclists, including:

• Using energy wisely

• Making your rivals work harder

• Tactical psychology

• Attacking

• Blocking

• Gapping

• Breakaways

• Primes and finishing strategies

• Teamwork

• Road, criterium, stage, and time trial strategy and tactics

In the expanded 3rd edition, Dr. Baker adds advice and information throughout, including his tips on race selection, tactics for a weak sprint, and dealing with non-team alliances.

Arnie Baker has coached racers to several Olympics, 30 national records and 80 national championships. He has authored or co-authored 14 cycling books and more than 750 articles. On the bike, he is a category 1 racer who has set eight U.S. 40K time trial records and won more than 200 races, including multiple national championships. He practices what he preaches!

In this excerpt from page 80 of Part 3: Specific Tactics, Dr. Baker lays out the reasons for impeding other riders before he describes 14 ways to do it.

EXCERPT: Why Block?

Blocking is almost always thought of as a team tactic, but it can also be used successfully by individual riders to weaken others or create tactically advantageous positions.

As a team rider, blocking can be used to:

1. Help a rider breakaway or sprint, generally a teammate.

2. Control the pace for a sprinter. The team sprinter may have a fabulous finish, but no high-end endurance. If the pace is too high for too long, the sprinter burns up. Blockers slow the pace, allowing the sprinter to sit in and win at the end.

3. In a stage or points race, set up a breakaway that doesn’t threaten the chances of a protected teammate. This may relieve pressure on the team to set the pace or chase other more dangerous breakaways. Read more about blocking and stage race tactics beginning on page 124.

4. Force other teams to chase. This may result in other teams doing more tempo work or force them to attack, allowing a counter move later on.

As a solo rider, blocking can be used to:

5. Divide other riders. Read more about this topic in Teamwork Without Teammates on page 108.

6. Provide time to recover, or contrarily…

7. Help bluff that you are tired.

8. Correct or gain the timing for later efforts.

9. Work on a real or imaginary mechanical issue.
 

 10. Gain time to analyze race dynamics or check riders’ positions.

 11. Force others to work.

 12. Send a message that others must share work. For example, “I’m not going to pull the whole breakaway; if that means we get caught, so be it.”

 13. Encourage attacks to:

• Tire the group

• Set up a counter

• Frustrate a rival. Read more about frustration on page 53.

 14. Improve safety. For example: Blocking and keeping a group together for a descent may result in a safer descent than if the field is split, with riders chasing each other down at break-neck speeds.

 15. Provide opportunities to bridge.

Next, Dr. Baker details 14 different techniques, with illustrations, for effectively blocking riders as a team or individual.

TOC: Strategy & Tactics for Cyclists

Foreword Racing Recipe Goals, Strategy, Tactics, Moves, Skills   Part 1: Energy Energy: The Currency of Racing Work for a Reason Drafting Pacelines Echelons Wheelsucking Warm-Up Pacing Keep Momentum Arrive at Obstacles Near the Front Event Energy Conservation Make Rivals Use Energy Isolation Equipment Part 2: Psychology & Style Body Language Mind Games Be Aggressive, Not Passive Anticipate, Don’t React Miscellaneous Style Part 3: Specific Tactics The "Matchbook" Analogy Pre-Race Questions During-The-Race Questions Attacking: Introduction Wind, Corner & Climb Attacks Countering Attacks Blocking Gapping Breakaways Working a Breakaway Tracking Breakaways Chasing a Breakaway Criterium Solo Breakaway Part 4: Teamwork Teamwork Theory Managing Your Team Basic Race Teamwork Advanced Teamwork Teamwork without Teammates Non-Team Alliances Part 5: Primes & Finishes Prime Hunting Sprinting—Introduction Is Your Sprint Weak? Leadouts Endgame: One-on-One Endgame: Two-on-One Part 6: Event-Specific Tactics Race Selection Road Race & Criterium Time Trial (Solo) Team Time Trial Stage Race   Final Words Glossary Excerpt