Run a marathon, and then in the final stretch, start racing in a 100-meter dash. Drive 40 mph, and at the same time, play chess with the guy in the next car. Then throw in a hand of poker. This is the world of the sprinters.
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| Sagan wins sprint into Paso Robles at Tour of California |
When does a stage end up in a sprint?
The profile of the route indicates the finish. Flat stages with few or no hills are most conducive to sprints. Courses with rolling hills or an incline at the finish are less suited to the true sprinters but not impossible. Mountains are a different animal. Race organizers publish map profiles in advance, so we can anticipate which stages will conclude with a sprint.
What is a lead-out train?
When it works, the lead-out train is a beautiful demonstration of teamwork. A sprinter’s teammates line up, one in front of the other, with the sprinter riding in last place. The rider at the front of the line sets the tempo, prompting the entire peloton to ride faster and eliminating some slower competitors from the mix. The teammate up front also cuts the wind, saving the rider behind him precious energy.
In the lead-out train, the teammates take turns doing that harder work at the front, and when they are spent, they pull off to the side. The next man starts his turn, and so on, until the last rider in front of the sprinter. The last rider’s job is to stay up front until the last possible moment, so that the sprinter conserves his energy until his big solo finish. When the last man pulls off, the sprinter is launched, and then he is on his own to make it happen for the win. It is part high-speed chess match.
Sprinter Mark Cavendish has said that while one man is awarded the sprint stage victory, it really should be awarded to the whole team. After his second stage win this year, Cav tweeted, “I crossed the line 1st, but I was absolutely nothing today without 8 of the most amazing guys I'd ever wish to be associated with. So proud.” Perhaps the most precise lead-out trains were the HTC-Highroad squads of 2008 and 2009 working for Cavendish, and while there have been some hiccups since then, the Briton continues to credit his successes to the support of his team.
Isn’t the last lead-out man racing as fast as the sprinters?
Indeed, the last lead-out man rides so fast, he could contend for the sprint himself. Case in point is HTC’s Mark Renshaw, Cavendish’s final lead-out man. On another team, Renshaw is so fast that he would be the sprinter the team would work for. Yet on HTC, his job is lead-out man—a helper to Cavendish—and he does it well. This is an example of the humbling roles assumed by magnificent athletes in the sport of cycling.
What is the sprinter doing in the final moments?
This is the fast-paced game of chess/poker/chicken. He is tracking where everyone is and what they are doing, identifying holes between riders where he can accelerate to the line, and deciding what is the last possible moment to launch the acceleration. He waits until the last moment so that he can fire that energy over the shortest possible distance, and if he can add an element of surprise to throw off his competitors, all the better. And all of this is happening at 40+ mph.
When does the sprint action start in a stage?
While it appears that sprints begin in the final few kilometers, sprinters’ teams are working right from the gun. As nearly every stage features a breakaway, the sprinters’ teams must keep the break within their reach, and usually in the second half of the course, they take responsibility for reeling in the break. This is part of the cycling code which says that if you want to win, you have to do the work.
At the Tour de France, the sprinters’ teams often begin to take control of the race around 50K to the finish, sometimes as early as 100K out. They gather riders at the front and set the pace, with a faster speed keeping the peloton calmer from the greater effort it demands. The quick tempo eliminates some weaker riders from the sprint when they cannot keep up. The lead-out trains are visible from at least 10K to the finish.
What makes a good sprinter?
Like their track and field counterparts, sprinters on the bike need power combined with fast-twitch muscles for the rapid accelerations. Most are big guys, like Belgian Tom Boonen who is 6’3½”, 180 lbs, and Edvald Boassen Hagen, who is 5’11½”, 170 lbs. Australian Robbie McEwen (5’7½”, 150 lbs.) and Briton Mark Cavendish (5’9”, 150 lbs.) are notable exceptions. Cavendish sprints with a lower profile, using a more aerodynamic position that compensates for the limited power output from his smaller frame.
Beyond size, it is extremely difficult for sprinters to have successful careers without a strong team behind them. So they also must work seamlessly with their teammates and keep those teammates inspired to help them. A bit like the lead singer of a band, the sprinter may be the flashy front-man, but he needs the guys on guitar and drums to make the music that sells the records.
Why all the smack talk?
Sprinters are known for their brash personalities and are the most prolific smack talkers among the peloton. Perhaps this style comes with the power and the fast-twitch muscles. Their performances and their language are the most dynamic aspects of sprinting, as even Tour winners usually keep their commentary low-key.
Cavendish talks big about his own skills, and he has the results to back it up. However, he rarely gets credit for shutting up when he is not producing or for thanking and crediting his teammates for their role in the wins. His colorful tweets will crack you up, such as: “Just pondered during massage on why #TourDeFrance makes me more emotional than a menopausal woman. It just means SO much to me. I love it.” On the other end of the spectrum, sprinter Tyler Farrar is as soft-spoken as an I.T. guy.
Why do you keep talking about Cavendish?
As of 2011, Mark Cavendish (aka “The Manx Missile”) is the best sprinter of all time and rightly called the fastest man in the world. His tally of 17 career stage wins at the Tour de France represents the fifth most stage wins of all time, behind legends Merckx (34 stage wins), Hinault (28), Armstrong (22), and Darrigade (22). Frenchman Andre Darrigade competed in the 1950’s and secured his 22 wins over 14 years. Cavendish racked up 17 since 2008 and will likely best Darrigade’s record. Cavendish’s wins at Milan-San Remo, stages at the Giro d’Italia, and other accomplishments are remarkable for a 26-year-old with no signs of slowing down. His record is so far ahead of his rivals, it would take any other sprinter years to top him.
Who are the other hot sprinters at this year’s Tour de France?
American Tyler Farrar of Garmin-Cervelo won Stage 3 on the Fourth of July, finally adding a Tour stage win to his Vuelta a Espana and Giro d’Italia stages, among other victories. His teammate Thor Hushovd, the Norwegian, is a former winner of the green jersey and current world champion. Also from Norway, Edvald Boasson Hagen rides for Team Sky and won Stage 6, his first Tour victory. Alessandro Petacchi, the Italian known as Ale-jet, rides for Lampre and won the green jersey in 2010. German Andre Greipel beat Cavendish to the line at Stage 11, securing a win for Omega Pharma-Lotto. Spaniard Jose Joaquin Rojas of Movistar is in the mix for the points competition. Other younger riders such as Ben Swift of Team Sky and Matt Goss of HTC-Highroad are also sprinters to watch into the future. Belgian Tom Boonen withdrew from the Tour due to injuries.
When does a sprint finish get thwarted?
On rare occasions, no team comes forward to take responsibility for reigning in the breakaway, which ends up getting too far ahead to be caught and the sprinters in the peloton miss their chance to compete. This is quite rare, as teams with good sprinters are usually strong enough and committed enough to man up and take responsibility.
What does the green jersey represent?
The green jersey is the prize awarded to the winner of the points competition, a race within the race. The scheme rewards consistent performance with highest emphasis on the flat stages suited best for sprints. Points are awarded to the first fifteen riders crossing the finish line, as well as a set point along the course (known as the intermediate sprint). The most points are given for flat stages (45 points for the first place finisher), followed by medium mountain finishes (30 points), high mountains (20), and time trials (20). The intermediate sprints feature 20 points for the first cyclist, as race organizers still want to save the hottest contest for the finish line.
A focused effort is required to win the green jersey, and as Cavendish has found, winning lots of stages is not enough. It is necessary to compete for the intermediate sprint points, a decision which may sap energy needed for a finish line win, as well as high placement at lots of stages. This year, Belgian Philippe Gilbert announced he is seeking the green jersey and is therefore racing hard at the intermediate sprints and trying to place in the top group of riders at the finish. It is certainly an accomplishment that Farrar and Cavendish would like to have on their resumes.
Where is the best place to watch a sprint finish?
At home on TV. Preferably with slow-motion replay. In person, it happens so fast, you won’t know what happened.
For those watching cycling for the first time, what is the best kind of stage to watch?
For those watching cycling for the first time, what is the best kind of stage to watch?
When are the remaining sprints for this year’s Tour de France?
Stage 11 on July 13th and Stage 15 on July 17th will be great sprint finishes, but the ultimate sprint win is always on the last day of the race. Every year, the finale stage is a sprint on the Champs Elysees in Paris. Cavendish won the sprint into Paris in 2009 and 2010 and will aim to repeat for a third annual victory, though his rivals have other plans. Versus airs the race, while NBC sports offers coverage online. While the lead-out train plays out over the course, the last 10 kilometers of a sprint finish will keep you on the edge of your seat. Or jumping out of it, yelling GO, GO, GO!
As of Stage 11, that is 18 Tour de France stage wins for Cavendish so far.
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