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Pursuit Drill Depending on numbers, riders form one or two groups on the blue, riding on opposite sides of the track at 30 km/h. The lead 4 riders from each group descend to the black line, maintaining a ˝ lap separation and riding at pursuit speed (not an all effort, but faster than time trial speed on the road — 45-50 km/h). Upon catching up to the group they left from, the lead rider in each black group goes up to join the back of the group and get a rest. Meanwhile, the lead rider from each blue group waits for the remaining 3 riders to pass underneath and then drops down to join the line. As the drill progresses, each rider does 4 laps at pursuit speed, the last one being out front. Riders should avoid sprinting when they get to the front of a group as this tires everyone out too soon. This should be a long drill at an even, though high tempo. It is permitted for stronger riders to do more than one lap in front and for weaker riders to go up early. Indeed, riders ought to go up to the first group they reach once they tire as the effort will have to be repeated many times and this will not be possible if they tire themselves too much any one time. Riders do not have to go up to join the group they left from but they should not go up between groups. Remind everyone before the drill starts that, however tired you get, riding up to the blue too soon will only prolong your effort because it lengthens the distance away from the group, and the slipstream it provides to help you recover. The more exhausted you are, the longer you should stay on the black before rejoining the group. Conversely, riders who shut it down too late should be instructed to ride higher on the track to pass above the group. As always, taking the longer, steeper line up track is the way to slow down. Riders who make the mistake of passing underneath the group take too fast and too short a path to get behind. They must drop down to the coté and stop to rejoin the group, being careful not to interfere with the riders doing intervals on the black. With lower numbers it may be necessary to reduce the number of riders on the black to one group, or to groups of two or three. Conversely, with higher numbers, put up to five riders on the black in two opposed pace lines if necessary. |