I'm a slow sprinter, but pretty decent old mtb racer, that seems pretty fast to me. I wonder if you'll end up losing to a bunch of good road racers that you might otherwise beat soundly on dirt? - that's my prediction.

 

Thanks for the response.

About the event, we hold crit events and include MTB category since not all has the means to get a road bike easily here in the Philippines. So I'll be pitted against people on mtbs too (prolly XC mtbs).

 

It's situational based. There's been times where I've won a sprint on a road bike at 61kph, and other times where I've won a sprint at 47kph.

Instead of worrying about top speed, figure out how you're going to put yourself in the best position to win the race. If it comes down to a field sprint, you'll have a lesser chance of winning compared to if you are in a breakaway of a few racers. Figure out how far you can sprint. For example, if you start your sprint at 400m to go, there is a very good chance you'll get caught from petering out near the finish. Set up cones from 100m and 200m to the finish, and sprint from each, its a big jump to start sprinting 200m.

Figure out where the finish line is at in relation to the course. I know this sounds silly, but you definitely don't want to be first coming into the final stretch, and you don't want to be last. Depending on the course and how technical it is, I feel confident in my sprint being 5th-3rd coming into the final straightaway.

I digress. Let us know how you do!

 

Like others have said, that position for the starting line would be really important to me.

There is a sprint segment I’ve done about 50 times (guilty pleasure) that I repeatedly tie the KOM with 10 other Cat 1 racers (many on CX bikes) . it’s coming out of a turn where you can only make the turn at 22-25kph it’s a transition from a sidewalk onto decomposed granite for the sprint so traction isn’t 100% at 1000 plus watts.


Entry speed : 25 kph
Duration: 25 seconds
Segment Average speed: 49 kph 28-29mph
Top speed: 52-60 KPH 32-37 mph
Top speed varies based upon approach and gearing but with both gearing I have repeatedly done this.

My FS is 32-10 and provides more traction but I spin out at the low mid 50s.

My hardtail is 38-10 but I think the ramp up is a tad slower due to slight traction loss on DG but top speed is usually higher at ~60 kph

I bought the 38t for the sole purpose of gearing for Crit sprints and street riding and decided to just keep it on all the time. 12 bucks on eBay is a cheap price to pay for smile and and a little trolling.

I’d want the big gear at the end of the CRIT, especially on Asphalt. But if I was doing an XC race the next day that required me to keep the same gearing, I’d run a 32 because I am 11speed 38t on eagle. I’m usually on some type of Maxxis 2.35 exo tire and often a Hans Dampf up front. I only mentioned this because you mentioned tire.









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Apparently 29.1mph in a STXC race last month. Sprinted for 12th :shrug:

Top Fuel with a 36t, 11 speed sram 10-42t, Kenda Saber Pro 2.2 tires.

 

My fastest sprint is kind of irrelevant.

If this is your first race, making it to the end at/near front of the field should be the main concern.

I’d figure out the limits of your tires, how to draft, how to work with others, etc. The 99% of the bike race before the finish. Sprinting to the finish line for 15th after you got gapped off halfway through because you can’t draft or corner confidently doesn’t make any sense. You’re focused on finishing off a race without understanding all of work that comes before it.


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My fastest sprint is kind of irrelevant.

If this is your first race, making it to the end at/near front of the field should be the main concern.

I'd figure out the limits of your tires, how to draft, how to work with others, etc. The 99% of the bike race before the finish. Sprinting to the finish line for 15th after you got gapped off halfway through because you can't draft or corner confidently doesn't make any sense. You're focused on finishing off a race without understanding all of work that comes before it.

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Exactly. The Short Track I mentioned was over for me in the first 30 seconds with a bungled start, guys at the front probably didn't hit high speeds in a sprint finish but sure as hell beat me.

But yeah, I figure most guys can hit mid to high 20's on XC bikes in a flat sprint.

 

Yeah. My best STXC results have come when I sprint exactly once: off the starting line.

After that, attacking up a hill at 10mph when everyone else was only going 8mph, and doing that for a couple of laps. A 500w effort is in no way a “sprint”, but it was enough to take 3rd.


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My best 5sec was around 1100W, but haven't seen those kinds of numbers in years. At 50+ I can barely break an instantaneous 1000W, at 155 pounds. (road bike data).

As far as sprinting for the finish line in an MTB race, that's probably only happened a handful of times in 50 races. For MTB wins I've only come in alone.

I did win a CX race (Masters C) in a sprint and that was awesome feeling. In the 45As, not even close .

 

thirty

 

Couple of clarifications.

Is this an MTB Crit or a Short track race?

Lots of the guys in the fat tire crit for epic rides eventually went to 40c Maxxis slicks. The experienced crit racers did well due tactics throughout the race vs who was the best sprinter.

Have you raced road Crits before?

There are some fantastic podcasts on strategy on theTrainerRoad podcast. One is an interview with the Clif team, and another is a breakdown of an actual race the did. They have some videos with commentary on their forum.


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Id say the better number to want to know here is what is your best 15 second"ish" W/kg. Too many variables in finish line sprints, some of which have been stated..wind direction, drafting, hill grade, surface, weight of rider, type of finish (ST or XC) I know alot of people don't have power meters on their MTB so speed seems like the best measure, but its very unreliable in terms of comparing between people and really only works for anyone thats ridden that exact same spot, which means strava segments basically.

 

I sprinted for 5th at end of my first expert/(local)cat1 xc race this year and ended up doing 31mph/~50kph across the line at the end of a 10 sec 900w effort. Hands down the hardest I've ever pedaled a bike in my life. It was incredibly painful and awesome at the same time.

 

It is a CRIT race held on a concrete road. There's categories for road bikes, but there is one for MTBs too. Not all has road bikes here in the Philippines and cycling here is just starting to bloom. Maybe that's why they included an MTB category for those who are curious about crit racing and does not own a road bike.

Well to be honest, it will be my second mtb crit. The first one I was gapped right at the start and couldn't come back, eventually I stopped with 5 more laps to go because I know there wa no going back that gap. It felt so disappointing that I went on to study and watch a lot of crit vids (road bikes) on youtube, and of course the local saturday crit road races. I practiced a lot of techniques during group rides. They think the same as me so when we go for a group ride it's usually a fast one so drafting, and working together is very important. Now I'm at the end of my preparation where I'm thinkin a sprint might be involved, that's why I'm asking for sprint speeds so I have a number which will be my basis of how fast a sprint should be on an MTB. Of course if a break happens I will do my best to be part of that. This time I've done a lot of thinking and I want that win!

I wouldn't want to disappoint you all but I'll tell you the results after the race (dec 8)

 

As others have stated. If it plays out like an ordinary crit tactics will probably play a larger role than your top speed. Another problem I see when you do a race like this with fast mountain bikers with little road experience they will often blow the field up. Yo-yoing with numerous attacks early on that don't stick or have have a break away and an inability to get the chase group organized to run them down.

 

I used to do paved mtb crits in the rainy season when I lived in the pacific/tropical region since mud was horrendously adhesive. The mtb club would do all road based events(and some gravel). The biggest thing is not so much sprinting accelleration as the ability to turn well. Carry speed and not need to sprint and you will be a lot more efficient to save up for the end. Good shifting and minimal braking. To answer your first question, when I play in traffic in the city I tailgate traffic at 28mph or so on the trail bike(about 2 miles).

 

Your sprint speed doesn't matter. There are just to many variables to have a repeatable top speed. Watts are repeatable, but you need a power meter.

If you like racing and want to keep liking it, make it fun. The start is the most important part. Drafting is key and I never lead for the start. I like to sit 1 or 2 riders back and save my energy.

The winner of the race is usually the one that uses the least amount of energy to stay with the lead pack.

 

Thanks everyone! I freakin WON!!!

Was able to join a six man breakaway and we made it work. I sprinted for the finish line, I didn't know why but I just felt like I had to go and I was actually fading 50 meters away from the line but I had a small gap and I won!! WOoohhh thank you so much everyone!!!!

Sorry for the long post

 

Here's a video of the finish. It's not really in good quality but better than none

 

Awesome job! Nice gap at the finish! Thanks for posting the follow up!

 

Nice job!! Looks like some of your competitors were pretty serious, using carbon forks and shoe covers, haha.

But you had the most important thing.......sprinter legs!!