New tactic learned- when you see a strong guy cleaning camera lens that’s same as seeing strong guy take a big drink; glue yourself to his/her wheel and get ready for some fireworks.
Brilliant content Alex, thanks! Knock the GoPro down to 1080p/30fps, I've had roughly 2hrs out of mine in a road race with the enduro battery, wifi turned off, displays go to sleep and so on
Nice video, you may struggle with my technique, but I wander around the HQ telling everyone how fat I have gotten, how rough I feel and how am not sure if having a hangover is ideal for a race. When the neutralised car moves away, I then creep off as soon as on a rise. Everyone thinks that fat hungover guy will be back soon, get around a couple of corners and then hit tt mode. Works pretty well. 😉
This is so helpful for us guys that doesnt have the same racing experience as our opponents. Jeff from NorCal is brilliant, but IHMO this is better advice for us europeans racing longer courses and not crits
this video makes me chuckle, almost the entire group is better kitted out than the world tour peloton. pretty much everyone is in skinsuits deep sections, aero bikes and areolids.
Racing at this level takes so many hours of training. If you're willing to invest so much time it's worth investing some money to maximise your time spent.
Excellent video, got the impression (wrongly or not) that there might be stronger cyclists this race than your current fitness ( i guess on your WT days you could wipe the floor in this races) BUT your Racecraft is MUCH higher than the peloton in this race and that played a lot in your favour.
Great video. You must miss the team element in your current racing tho! Best race finish for me in a 2, 3,4 circuit race was just this. 2 lads 300m up the road, carried my momentum and seated attack into the wind BUT my mates then sat up and once I connected the 3 of us went to the finish 2 mins clear. I was 56 yrs old then so chuffed is an understatement.
Thanks Alex. As a Masters racer I was pretty good at getting into breaks but if you'd asked me how I did it, I would've shrugged my shoulders. Thanks for explaining the "how." The answer is I was good at following. So thanks for that. The other move that you explained that is so effective is the pre corner/RAB attack. Everyone is getting ready to turn and you hit them with something they are not thinking about. Then as an attacker you travel less distance to get through the turn(s). Great one as a race reaches the closing kilometers. Thanks again.
That attack after I crashed was the reason I DNFed. Got back on the bumper of the neutral after chain dropped costing me 50 seconds. Got back to the convoy just at the bottom of the hill where attacks were flying.
Great video Alex 😊 It's great to see how this video ties in even with a BMCR crit race I did the other day. I'm still trying to master the art of racing and this certainly helps 😁💪🏽👍🏼
The part when you say about the team work.. that was actually me not Sam Culverwell and I’m not on piran.. what happened is piran had just done that with Rowan and Alex sat up, I wasn’t in the right position to follow so once I realised I moved up and attacked. Luckily Alex stayed sat up so I could get away too..
Is this a lads weekend ride ? What’s up with all the traffic on the roads if it’s a race ?there are even riders crossing the centre line of the road into on coming traffic ? Pretty mind blowing 1. If this is a race that you have paid for that the roads are not closed for rider safety and 2. Riders within the bunch actually cross the centre into oncoming traffic.
I always wished I could ride in breakaways. Train for it, hope for it, attack, go with attacks.... only successful a tiny margin of the time... because...well. I'm a sprinter. Winning the field sprint... that's what I'm good at.
I did the this race known as the Perfs years ago, i was in a break with Jez Hunt and I thought we've got this in the bag until stopped by horses ! always hated those early season races @@AlexDowsettOfficial
really interesting... @Alex Do you think that a lot of riders over-commit themselves earlier on in races because they think they're stronger.. It seems that people who who win races make attacks at smart times , as you say in the video. Should young riders spend more time watching pro bike racing on TV to learn how to race and practice in their own local and national racing and become more methodical and organised rather than a series jumps and taking chances? T.y
Holy smokes - what is up with the open road racing minimal respect for the center line? There's multiple clips with cars clearly oncoming in right lane with people deciding to use that lane to pass across the center line. In the USA even with closed roads people get chewed out or disqualified for ever so slight center line crossing
They don't, loads of road races are cancelled because of riders coliding with cars on corners, I've been in 2 races where this has happened yet I've only ever entered a total of about 10 road races.
My experience as a racer + marshal - usually they have marshals blocking the entire junction, hence most times you're ok to go on the other side of the road there. Usually in the pre race briefing they'll state if a junction is not completely closed as 99% times it is. On the straights it's more of a no-no and the commissaire will pull riders or stop the race if it's happening too often or risks being taken. There is some discretion on the part of the commissaire, as little moving up moves will be tolerated if the road ahead is visible and clear. This will depend on how strict the commissaire is, and it's getting harder these days though with max subscribed fields and increasing road traffic.
Only thing I want to see you change @AlexDowsett is use KPH I have no idea what a MPH and doing calculations every time you pause the video is too much. I get most of your supports are yanks probably.
I don't believe it is, if Speed is on the X axis and power is on the Y, the power required to gain speed will get higher proportionately than speed. The relationship isn't exponential but it also isn't linear.
Log is the opposite of exponential, so that would roughly mean a small l increase in power (y axis) would equate to a large increase in speed (x axis). So if we use Alex referential is indeed exponential (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drag_(physics))
New tactic learned- when you see a strong guy cleaning camera lens that’s same as seeing strong guy take a big drink; glue yourself to his/her wheel and get ready for some fireworks.
I'd love to see more videos of this type.
Brilliant content Alex, thanks! Knock the GoPro down to 1080p/30fps, I've had roughly 2hrs out of mine in a road race with the enduro battery, wifi turned off, displays go to sleep and so on
Nice video, you may struggle with my technique, but I wander around the HQ telling everyone how fat I have gotten, how rough I feel and how am not sure if having a hangover is ideal for a race. When the neutralised car moves away, I then creep off as soon as on a rise. Everyone thinks that fat hungover guy will be back soon, get around a couple of corners and then hit tt mode. Works pretty well. 😉
The pre race book of excuses. Love it 😉
What a Master Class on racing. Thank you for this EXCELLENT breakdown and instructive analysis. Respect.
Good stuff, British elite road racing at its finest, smashing each other till the break sticks.brought some memories back. Loved it
Thanks for the video Alex, I took your lessons and used them to get a solo winning break in my last race. Appreciate the tips!
Can we have a town centre crit version of this later in the season please. The exposure you're giving the sport is brilliant!
This is so helpful for us guys that doesnt have the same racing experience as our opponents. Jeff from NorCal is brilliant, but IHMO this is better advice for us europeans racing longer courses and not crits
this video makes me chuckle, almost the entire group is better kitted out than the world tour peloton. pretty much everyone is in skinsuits deep sections, aero bikes and areolids.
Welcome to the present day road racing. Aero saves energy even for the amateur level. 🚴
Racing at this level takes so many hours of training. If you're willing to invest so much time it's worth investing some money to maximise your time spent.
@@robvtec i know, someone should explain that to a lot of the world tour teams.
Almost as if they are racing
What is your point?
This is a great video Alex giving proper insight into what goes on during a race. Thanks for sharing. 😁
Excellent video, got the impression (wrongly or not) that there might be stronger cyclists this race than your current fitness ( i guess on your WT days you could wipe the floor in this races) BUT your Racecraft is MUCH higher than the peloton in this race and that played a lot in your favour.
That I think would be an astute observation 😅
Great video, loved it and thanks!
Great video, you explanation of what goes on during a race is very informative . Good work ! Much appreciated !
Thanks Alex, Im just getting back to my first race in 2 weeks and this was super helpful and a good confidence booster
Great video. You must miss the team element in your current racing tho! Best race finish for me in a 2, 3,4 circuit race was just this. 2 lads 300m up the road, carried my momentum and seated attack into the wind BUT my mates then sat up and once I connected the 3 of us went to the finish 2 mins clear. I was 56 yrs old then so chuffed is an understatement.
Love the video, Alex. Please do more for other interesting races.
Great video. It does scare me we have racing on open roads though. Some sections I was hiding whilst watching. the NEG are legends.
Might thoughts exactly!
Thanks Alex it’s an awesome insight into a pro cyclist’s tactics 🕺💪🏻🇬🇧
What a great material and perspective presentation. Was looking for a long time for such apparouch to talk about racing. Keep doing it! 😀👍 Thanks!
Thanks Alex. As a Masters racer I was pretty good at getting into breaks but if you'd asked me how I did it, I would've shrugged my shoulders. Thanks for explaining the "how." The answer is I was good at following. So thanks for that. The other move that you explained that is so effective is the pre corner/RAB attack. Everyone is getting ready to turn and you hit them with something they are not thinking about. Then as an attacker you travel less distance to get through the turn(s). Great one as a race reaches the closing kilometers. Thanks again.
That was very interesting and informative.
Would like to hear Alex’s analysis of some pro tour stages.
That attack after I crashed was the reason I DNFed. Got back on the bumper of the neutral after chain dropped costing me 50 seconds. Got back to the convoy just at the bottom of the hill where attacks were flying.
Great video Alex 😊 It's great to see how this video ties in even with a BMCR crit race I did the other day. I'm still trying to master the art of racing and this certainly helps 😁💪🏽👍🏼
Love this analysis! Thanks, Alex.
This is so insightful. More please 😊
Love this, hope we have more videos like this
Great content Alex, thanks!
Awesome video. Another please
This type of video is awesome! Can you do one on how to move up/position oneself within the peloton? Thanks
Excellent stuff Alex. Keep em coming
Loved that
Superb content Alex
My entire race strategy is always "HOPE + PRAYER."
Beautiful video! Thanks for your tips 😊
Really loved this video format + useful content! Just curious on your opinion about bc still racing on half-closed roads?
The part when you say about the team work.. that was actually me not Sam Culverwell and I’m not on piran.. what happened is piran had just done that with Rowan and Alex sat up, I wasn’t in the right position to follow so once I realised I moved up and attacked. Luckily Alex stayed sat up so I could get away too..
Class video.
Is this a lads weekend ride ? What’s up with all the traffic on the roads if it’s a race ?there are even riders crossing the centre line of the road into on coming traffic ?
Pretty mind blowing 1. If this is a race that you have paid for that the roads are not closed for rider safety and 2. Riders within the bunch actually cross the centre into oncoming traffic.
I always wished I could ride in breakaways. Train for it, hope for it, attack, go with attacks.... only successful a tiny margin of the time... because...well. I'm a sprinter. Winning the field sprint... that's what I'm good at.
Hi Alex, great videos, you may already know but GoPro do a Enduro Battery that is longer lasting.
It already has them 😅😅
I did the this race known as the Perfs years ago, i was in a break with Jez Hunt and I thought we've got this in the bag until stopped by horses ! always hated those early season races @@AlexDowsettOfficial
I'm a fan on the track of "look casual". Dont' LOOK like your attacking but increase you rpms.
really interesting... @Alex Do you think that a lot of riders over-commit themselves earlier on in races because they think they're stronger.. It seems that people who who win races make attacks at smart times , as you say in the video.
Should young riders spend more time watching pro bike racing on TV to learn how to race and practice in their own local and national racing and become more methodical and organised rather than a series jumps and taking chances? T.y
Great video thankyou. 👍👍
Great stuff
Holy smokes - what is up with the open road racing minimal respect for the center line?
There's multiple clips with cars clearly oncoming in right lane with people deciding to use that lane to pass across the center line.
In the USA even with closed roads people get chewed out or disqualified for ever so slight center line crossing
1:08-1:13. My races summed up in 5 seconds
How do you lads get away with constantly crossing the white lines, especially with on coming corners?
They don't, loads of road races are cancelled because of riders coliding with cars on corners, I've been in 2 races where this has happened yet I've only ever entered a total of about 10 road races.
My experience as a racer + marshal - usually they have marshals blocking the entire junction, hence most times you're ok to go on the other side of the road there. Usually in the pre race briefing they'll state if a junction is not completely closed as 99% times it is. On the straights it's more of a no-no and the commissaire will pull riders or stop the race if it's happening too often or risks being taken. There is some discretion on the part of the commissaire, as little moving up moves will be tolerated if the road ahead is visible and clear. This will depend on how strict the commissaire is, and it's getting harder these days though with max subscribed fields and increasing road traffic.
Collab with Norcal soon?
why are there cars on the roads while you are racing? That's so insanely dangerous.
We like to liv e dangerously in the UK!
Welcome to backward Britain!
I'm shocked you racing while cars circulating, no security there 😱, imagine s.o lose control and he goes ahead car at such speed.
How many dudes in this race are named Alex?!?
Only thing I want to see you change @AlexDowsett is use KPH I have no idea what a MPH and doing calculations every time you pause the video is too much. I get most of your supports are yanks probably.
We still measure speed and distance in the UK using Miles.
Brits and Americans. I can layover both speeds though in future 🙏
Good for your brain to do some quick calculations watching the race... Rgr
Logarithmic curve is the word you're after
I don't believe it is, if Speed is on the X axis and power is on the Y, the power required to gain speed will get higher proportionately than speed. The relationship isn't exponential but it also isn't linear.
Log is the opposite of exponential, so that would roughly mean a small l increase in power (y axis) would equate to a large increase in speed (x axis). So if we use Alex referential is indeed exponential (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drag_(physics))
@@AlexDowsettOfficial i think it is a quadratic function