Crit Race | Newbie races Dalton Crit Cat 4

(#18 in the video here) Nice chatting to you Max and glad you enjoyed that sprint, it was great fun. Thanks for recording, it's useful to have some footage to analyze! Hopefully see you around Dalton more often. That was a particularly hard night, those guys on the front were shifting, but we didn't get lapped in that group of three, and that's what I'm happiest about. No advice, you did great for your first race.

Hiya, #06 here, the other guy in the 3-up. If I'd known I was on camera, I'd have hit out on the last lap and made it more exciting 😂 Did that at Dalton back in March, and got a few points out of it. Nice chatting with you afterwards, and good luck in your future races!

Really enjoyed your footage and commentary on your 1st cat 4 race I'm looking at doing my 1st one soon that has given me some inspiration and pointers to give it ago👍😊 Good luck with future races

Thank you for sharing your experiences with us. The first race is always special for everyone. And to be honest, it doesn't matter how many participants there are. At my last race there were about 3.100 participants in a controlled mass start. It wasn't a CRIT, but a 127 km road race in the mountains. What applies to road races also applies here. The only difference is the course remains the same. Look at how the people in front of you are riding. Analyze whether there is a team that works together. See who is setting the pace and who is being pulled. Ride the corners properly, stay on the track, ride in the slipstream, close gaps if it makes sense to stay in a group. Pay attention to body language, looking behind is always a sign to position/attack/break. If possible, start in a group of three, then you can share the work. Because CRIT Racing is a team sport. But the most important thing: stay true to your pace. Don't be tempted to waste your "energy" too early. Well done

Good job. 3:35 when solo car key goes on one of your car tires. If you were to crash it could fall out and end up on the course and potentially lost. 4:45 flat course, race < 1 hr bring 1 water bottle. 23:41 advice from a sprinter: three man group you want to be 3rd wheel going into the sprint.

As someone toying with starting Cat 4 racing, I think I felt all the nerves vicariously through you as those are exactly the things that run through my mind. Inspired to take the plunge after watching your dig here.

Nice race Max! I've just started my crit racing journey this year as well and also learned quite quickly that fitness is only a small part of racing!

Your best video so far

Loved this! Do like a bit of crit footage and commentary (watch loads of NorCal for example). I totally get that excitement of the sprint regardless of where you are. I'm always up for a group sprint on Zwift, even though I'm sprinting for 70th, 300th or whatever. Kudos for having a go at this; like the chaingang, I've never been brave enough

Looks like so much fun!! I want to try this out one day!

Well done. I think you pretty much nailed it for your first. Finished wheels down and safe. Now to make progress. I’m surprised that was a Cat 4 race, wow they were moving. I think the good weather brought out some fast riders.

Crits are all about being smooth, saving energy and tactics, similar to road races. Just never sit on the bavk or you'll lose the groups as i think you found out. I'm not a racer really as I'm not punchy enough for the UK racing scene so i specialize in tt and long distance stuff as my power profile suits that. Maybe you try a local 10 mile tt on your road bike

Great video again Max, thanks for sharing. Starting your first race is always the hardest but everyone is lovely and youll want to go every week. Good luck and see you on the circuits around London soon I'm sure

Well done, entertaining, informative and fun to watch. Bring on the next one. M.

Just wanted to say thanks for this great video. Has made me think seriously at having a go at a Crit.

Great Vid Max. Anxiety to elation in 45 min. Similar to zwift, but different skill set and things to learn. IRL speed is not just a function of power. Much speed to be found. As with Zwift, it will be fun watching you work your way up the bunch finishes with this group. Also great to see how much fun taking part is rather than the focus on performance or a win.

Can’t beat the feeling of an IRL race!

Good video 👍🏻. If you can, always try and stay a few places from the front, but not on the front lol. It’s actually the safest place to be (as there are less people in front of you risking a crash) and it’s surprisingly easier. You have a few more seconds to react to moves and there is not as much surging in and out of the corners. There is always a ‘concertina’ effect in corners. If your towards the back of the bunch, your going into a corner as the leaders are coming out. The constant surging eventually builds fatigue. Keep at it and you’ll pick this all up anyway mate. Nice work.

perfectly executed sprint finish

Enjoyed that, good vid