Winning a Sprint Finish
Sometimes with certain road or circuit races, there is no need to think about the sprint finish technique as it is not needed, or it is very very short. Sometimes what can happen is no rider wants to act as the lead for the whole lead group but that can ruin the results. Eventually, someone's nerves might crack and they go for it. As a result, the length of the sprint finish can really vary not just because of the type of race but also on the lead group, its size and their triathlon coaching. Improving your sprint finish though is a very good skill to have and might play an important role in more races than you might think.
Stay sheltered for as long as you can
Whether you are moving from a large group or a smaller one there are some things to think about. The first thing is the boost staying sheltered gives you. When you are in a sheltered position, behind a good wheel you are trailing, it keeps you protected from the wind resistance and that has a big impact. Practice this in your triathlon training plan as it takes skill and practice to judge which is the best wheel to tuck behind and when the moment comes to move out, and in what direction to do so.
Choose your gear carefully
The gear you choose is a vital part of your sprint finish. If the wind is blowing against you, if you are going around a long bend at the end or if you have an uphill finish to the event, these are harder. In these cases even though you are at the finish you might want to gear down. But if the finish is at the end of a straight open road, you might want to gear up for it. Saving the gear change too late is a mistake that could affect the results.
Have somewhere to move to!
It is a good idea to make sure you do not have too many riders around you, especially towards the end of the race. You do not want to be blocked in should you want to move out. So have somewhere to move to and take care of when passing people. They are not going to just move over for you! Positioning and passing is something to include in your triathlon training plan to practice them.
Know your ability and that of your rivals
Part of your triathlon coaching should also include understanding your ability as well as being able to assess that of those you ride against. If you know you have more strength than the rest and the finish is a hard one against the wind or on an incline you could go for a longer sprint finish because you know you have the strength to do it. Or if you know you have particular talent at short sprints then save it for the right time. Some sprinters will think competition is losing strength when they fade back, but if you have a powerful finish it could be a good way to fake it and then take them!
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