• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Training4cyclists

Cycling Training Tips

  • About
  • Cycling Training Programs
  • Case Studies
  • Cycling Training Tips

3 Reasons Why Your Attacks Are Unsuccessful

December 22, 2009 by Jesper Bondo Medhus 1 Comment

Facebook3Pin

Attack from Kim Kirchen in a local criterium. Nicki Sorensen struggling to close the gap.Ever thought about why your attacks are unsuccessful? There are 3 main reasons why your attempts to win races don’t work out as you wish:

1) Insufficient VO2 max/ Threshold power

When you ride with the fastest riders it may be difficult for you to just stay with the group. In this case there will not be any opportunity for you to make early, serious attacks unless you increase your VO2max and threshold.

When you get a larger aerobic engine you will realize whether your problems were due to insufficient VO2max/threshold or insufficient anaerobic power. VO2max also plays a major role in the minutes where the attacks start. It may also be the factor which ensures a successful break.

Read more about why VO2 max is Crucial in Road Cycling.

2) Insufficient anaerobic power/sprint

If you feel comfortable during the race, just waiting for the moment to attack, then unsuccessful attacks might be caused by insufficient anaerobic power/sprint. What happens is that the whole bunch reacts when you start to jump and catch you quickly because there is not enough punch in your jump. Also the other riders may be extraordinary aware of your attacks since you have showed that it’s not a problem for you to stay in the group. Read about how to increase anaerobic endurance.

3) Tactical mistakes

Separating yourself from a group is difficult, because you are competing with riders at your own level and they all dream of winning the race. Thus, they are not going to just let you make a solo ride without hunting you to the finish line.

If you are not significantly stronger than your opponents (that is actually quite normal) then you will have to use your mind to make a clever move. Instead of making power-attacks you can make a slow attack to which the other riders will not pay attention. The other riders will probably think “he looks tired and if that is the best he can come up with, he will be back in a few minutes. I do not have to pull him back, he will come by himself. I will save my energy for serious attacks.

And that is exactly the point: You get a gap for free and the bunch doesn’t react (in time) because you did not frighten them with a scary power attack. An extra benefit is that you do not have to make an anaerobic burst to make the gap which will give you a better chance to find a decent pacing strategy. Read about 5 successful techniques used by winning cyclists.

Facebook3Pin

Want to learn more? Download e-book with 47 Tips to Become a Better Race Rider

About Jesper Bondo Medhus

I am a medical doctor with a special interest in cycling training. I work at the Hospital of Vejle using clinical physiology and nuclear medicine to diagnose cancer and heart patients. I have written two e-books: Time Effective Cycling Training and 12-Week Winter Training Program.

Reader Interactions

Previous post:
Why You Should Care About Resting Heart Rate
Next post:
33 Ways to Improve Cycling Performance

Comments

  1. Tm Cranch says

    November 11, 2010 at 2:25 am

    We’re in Naples, Florida and the terrain is flat. Really flat. What’s your take on training for power by pushing a 53×11 gear doing “bridge repeats” (our only version of hills)? I am definitely not blessed with an abundance of fast twitch muscle fiber so I’m looking for ways to improve power & sprint potential. Thanks for any input, Tim

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Jesper Bondo Medhus

Jesper Bondo Medhus, author of Training4cyclists.comAbout Jesper

Email Updates

Facebook

Youtube

E-books

Time Effective Cycling Training

12-Week Winter Training Program

Recommended posts

The Ultimate VO2 Max Training Session

Basic Principles of Cycling Training

How to Optimize Your Pre-Season Cycling Training

Time Trial Training – (best practice)

Mountain Bike Training for Beginners

Marginal Gains Theory

Case studies and experiments

Bronze Medal at 3K Pursuit World Championships with Only 10 Hrs/Week

The Story Behind the 12-Week Winter Training Program

How to Become Stronger Without Adding Muscle Mass

How Much Does Extra Weight Cost on Alpe d’Huez?