Part 3 of a series by Craig Upton

@##=#<1,L>@##=#Ever been standing at the start line of a big race thinking to yourself, “What am I doing here?” while looking at someone who is a much better rider than yourself. Or, perhaps as you stage for the start and you size up the competition, you’ve thought, “All these riders are pros—how am I ever going to survive this?” Well, you’re not alone. There are many people standing there next to you thinking the same thing.

Thinking like this will impede your performance, making it unlikely that you’ll be anywhere close to your best. In essence, you are beat by the ‘named’ rider or riders before the gun even goes off. In order to have your best race, it is necessary to relax, and think about your own game plan. You can only control what you do, not what anyone else does.

A famous rider once said to me, “Don’t look at these riders as opposition. They are there to help you get to the end of the race.” This is the same way you use a bunch of friends help you get through those long tough training rides. “The good thing about racing with such experienced and stronger riders is that they help you get to the finish faster and safer than rookies, so the race is actually easier,” he assured me. Yes, that’s right, the better the field, the easier the race. Use these riders to draft off of and help you.

Another approach used by an Australian rider was to break it down to the basic body parts. In typical Aussie fashion he said, “He has two legs, two arms and one heart just like me. There is no reason why I can’t ride with him.” This is perhaps a little tougher to think, but is absolutely true. It’s about building your personal confidence in order for you to race at your potential. I believe this is why there are so many world class Aussie riders, they never let themselves feel like they are undeserving or any less of a rider than their competition.

So next time you find yourself standing at the start with a bunch of pro riders you’ve read about in the magazines or the Central Park czar, just think: Wow! This is great. Look at all the horsepower to help me finish fast.

Part 1: Following the Program
Part 2: Recovery–The Forgotten Training Element
Part 4: Hill Training: Not as Hard as You Thought