Race analysis: why athletes blow up mid-race

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// TOPICS COVERED

(0:00:00) Intro – Ruth Holcomb on Balancing School, Training and Big Goals  

(0:14:42) Coaching Young Riders – Avoiding Burnout and Keeping Cycling Fun  

(0:25:37) How Ruth Learned to Pace Long Races vs Short, Punchy Efforts  

(0:27:16) Race File Analysis – Why This Athlete Is Blowing Up Mid-Race  

(0:30:40) Understanding “Matches” – How Every Spike Hurts Late Performance  

(0:33:01) How Lower Threshold Riders Should Pace Cyclocross Starts  

(0:40:43) Peaking, Rest and Why You Only Get Faster When You Recover  

(1:10:31) Warming Up the Right Way – Avoiding the “Cooked Before the Start” Trap  

Pro cyclist Ruth Holcomb joins Coach Jonathan to talk about what it takes to develop as a young rider without burning out, how to balance school with high performance, and what she learned transitioning from XCO racing to long gravel events. Together they break down an athlete’s cyclocross race files to show why so many riders blow up early, how pacing and power spikes drain your matchbook, and what smarter strategy looks like when your threshold isn’t the highest in the field. Ruth also shares practical advice on peaking, rest, warming up effectively, and keeping cycling fun for long term success.

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