- 1). Conserve energy throughout the beginning of the race up until the finish. Do not chase any breakaways from the main group and rely on your teammates to pace you. If the race is getting close to the finish and there is a group still off the front of the main pack, you and your team will have to pace them back if you plan on winning. You should not make any solo efforts, however, unless there is no other option.
- 2). Stay near the front of the main group, especially toward the end of the race. Crashes are a fact of life for bike racers, and a particularly bad crash on an uphill section close to the finish can put you out of contention before you ever reach the finish line.
- 3). Know the course and know when you are getting close to the finish line. If there are twists and turns right up to the finish, you may not see the finish until there is only a short distance left and you might miss your opportunity to sprint as a result.
- 4). Discard any water bottles and other unnecessary weight before the finishing sprint. Every ounce counts in a sprint finish, and the less you weigh, the faster you will be able to go.
- 5). Stay in the draft of your opponents when approaching the finish, but do not worry too much about maintaining that position. Most uphill finishes will be sufficiently steep such that drafting will offer little or no benefit.
- 6). Wait for your opportunity to sprint. The exact moment will depend on your opponent and how much energy you have in reserve when approaching the finish, but you should not leave it too long.
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