All good training plans start with a goal, so we have picked the Comox Dove Creek Omnium two day, July 14-15. It’s a two day three stage (TBA, prob tt, crit, rr) race with an overall standing by points. There are three categories there, A, B and C, so any rider in TripleShot should be able to take part.
The program will run twice a week until Dove Creek, and be primarily tactical development to help riders prepare for attacking, small breaks, chasing, blocking and lead-outs.
The main venue for this will be the regular Tuesday and Friday TS rides, but with drills and coaching. The drills are probably best for A and B groups so newer riders can enjoy the regular C ride.
Riders not wanting to take part need not fear the rides turning into full-on races. The drills are designed to isolate a few skills, and have constraints so that the competitive spirit doesn’t get out of control.
For example, on Tuesday sprint days, the lead-out teams will be learning how to accelerate as a group and deliver a sprinter to the line. But teams will not be allowed to interfere with each other, as the main challenge is learning the pacing, timing, and communication. Robbie McEwen head-butting is strictly frowned on.
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
The break and chase sessions will be similarly controlled so that the emphasis is on learning to jump together, get a gap and work to keep it. And the chasers learn to work together to pull them back. The chasers will spot the break 10- or 20 seconds, then try to organize the chase. Later, blocking will be added, but only as a sporting, sort of getting in the way, if the chasers fail to employ a doorman.
Riders not wanting to take part (at first; you’ll all want to eventually
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
I will introduce the drills, and there will be a coach riding with each group to offer feedback. Bryson and Luke are on for Tuesday. Debrief at coffee.
Tuesdays: Lead-outs.
Teams of 3-5 riders. Lead-outs start after second last corner. Sprinter job rotates.
Fridays: Breaks and chases
Two teams in each bunch. One is the attacker, the other the chaser. Half the attacking team will jump and try to stay away. The other half will sit on until the break is caught, then counter attack. The other team are chasers, and must organize to chase the break. But we will spot the break 10 seconds so they can suitably exhaust themselves before being caught.
Progressions include adding blocking, and adding a doorman role. Probably after week one.