Why do sprinters look back?

[nigelnorris]

I'm an utter n00b, know little about racing events or racing in general, so sorry if this is a silly question. I like to watch what I can when it's on TV though.

I've started to notice that it often happens that sprinters keep looking back to see what's going on behind them right up to the death. And as soon as they do it they get distracted, slow down a bit, and get overtaken. Why?

If their going flat out then surely it doesn't matter who is behind them because they couldn't go any faster to change the situation anyway. If they're not going flat out then why not?

Surely the idea should be that you decide to go for it, then go like the clappers and forget about what anyone else might be doing?

And why do they always stop pedalling to get their hands in the air, even though I must have seen a good number of racers lose races this way because someone nipped in and stole it in the last few feet.

 

[Dave5N]

'cos they are muppets and their coaches are despairing?

I spend a lot of time and lung-muscle shouting at riders not to do this - when you look back you slow down.

I think it's because they are dying a thousand deaths and the want to know, somehow, they have done enough.

 

[Will1985]

Looking back is a sign of weakness and gives the following person the psychological edge knowing that their opponent is suffering.

 

[Dave5N]

PS Remember Cav taking Boonen in the Scheldeprijs last year? Classic! Cavtastic!!!!

 

[Dave5N]

Looking back is a sign of weakness and gives the following person the psychological edge knowing that their opponent is suffering.

Yeah? Lance? Alpe D'Huez? 2001?

 

[Will1985]

Haha true - as always, Lance is an exception!

 

[Dave5N]

And not a sprinter, so you were right. Probably.

 

[Steve Austin]

I always check just to make sure the lanterne rouge doesn't go past me

 

[nigelnorris]

Haha I thought you were all going to give me some highly technical tactical explanation.

 

[yello]

Why go balls out when you can take it easy?

 

[Brahan]

Yeah, what's the rush?

 

[Landslide]

Strikes me you get a lot of looking behind from the lead-out riders, and whilst they're being towed up to the front, the sprinters will keep looking back to see who's shadowing them, but once they actually go for it they'll only have eyes for the finish line unless they know there's no-one close to them.

 

[TheDoctor]

Well, I do it to make sure I win the sprint but not by too much.
There's no point being first in the pub if you can't order a beer without passing out.

 

[andy_wrx]

Better still is to be second into the pub, then someone else is buying ?

 

[dodgy]

They should have mirrors.