Having got back into XC racing after a year's abscence, I entered the SAMS race at Highclere last weekend. I signed up for the Fun 2 thinking I would
ease myself in gently for the forthcoming season. At the gun the pack went off like Linford Christie- Christ we had 2 laps to go.Where did people get the energy for 1/2 mile sprints ?How do you train for starts like that and not expire on the first hill? Any advice greatfully received. I think I eventually finished 23rd. That podium is still a long way off.......

Yes this is one of the main reasons I gave up racing a few years ago. The best way to prepare for this is to warm up before the race. This takes at least 20 minutes of riding with the middle 10 hard. The problem is if you try to do this just before the race you'll be at the back of the pack come start time. Try getting someone else to hold your bike in line for you then warm up and appear 10 mins before the start. Anyone know if this breaks any new rules? I have'nt raced for 5 years.

It all depends on the course your racing. If its fairly open with lots of overtaking spots , theres no need to go belting off only to burn up. Keep at about 3/4 pace for the first mile, then when everyone else is having a coronary fit, change down the gears and go. Obviously if the course is tight single track then you will need to put the effort in early to avoid getting caught in pack or behind a slow rider. Train doing short powerful sprints alongside general riding and warm up before the start.

I remember reading an article in MBUK (might have been a different mag) a couple o years ago, and they were trying to descend the height of Mt. Everest in 24 hours, without covering the same trail twice. They did this in Chamonix, by just going up the chairlifts and cable cars and coming back down.
Also from when I went before that article, you could do some very good high altitude rides, ie catch the chairlift up to the meadows above the treeline, and then just follow the contours along. And when you wanted to drop back to the town, there were a myriad descents to chose from, from 40mph fire road screamers to technical singletrack. The trails are so good there that you don't really need to plan, just pick a different chairlift every day and ride trails which look good when you get up there

Yeah Simon, I know exactly what you mean! I was doing OK in Sport a couple of years back and missed a season due to a broken wrist. When I tried to get back into racing again I found the starts unbelievably quick. Where do live?? I live near Bedford. e-mail me if you want to hook up for some training for next season as it sounds like we need to work on the same areas.