A sprinter team works like a multi-stage rocket that catapults the fastest man towards the finish line. The preparatory work follows a fixed choreography that often brings structure to the race more than 100 kilometres before the finish line.
Sprint: Control - 100 kilometres to the finish
Three sprinter teams (red, blue, green) send controllers to the front of the peloton. These riders use their power to control the gap to the breakaway riders who have broken away from the peloton early on. As long as no sprinter team clearly dominates, several teams usually take part in the lead. Rule of thumb: 1 minute per 10 kilometres can be made up. The pace is usually regulated so that the breakaway is only caught around 10 kilometres before the finish. This makes it easier to control the race.
Positioning for the sprint - 7 km to go
The breakaways have been caught. The sprinter teams fight for the front positions in the peloton. The pace increases accordingly. The red team puts the pressure on with two positioners, who have the task of increasing the pace in a controlled manner until around 1500 metres before the finish so that their own train remains at the front and holds its own against the blue team. The protected sprinter moves into position. Short, hard intermediate sprints may be necessary to defend this position.
Pick up the pace - 1500 metres to go
The red team's pace setter goes to the front and gives it his all for around 500 metres. The pace should increase to just under 60 km/h by the 1000 metre mark so that no other team can overtake their own train before the sprint. For this job, time trialists with a strong tempo are often used, such as Tony Martin in the past.
Accelerate - another 1000 m
The accelerator is the penultimate man in front of the red sprinter. He takes the lead under the Devil's Lap and rides a long, measured sprint over around 400 metres. The speed increases to over 60 km/h, the air feels like a wall at this speed. At the same time, the green team is driving its man into position, who is still squeezing into the train.
Start sprint - 600 metres to go
The rider from the red team launches the actual sprint 600 metres before the finish. The sprinter follows in his slipstream and only has to pedal about half as hard as is required at the front. In good teams, the lead-out man is an experienced sprinter who would have some chances in a bunch sprint. The higher the calibre of the forerunners, the better the chances for the last man.
Sprinting - man against man - another 200 metres
The showdown. Around 12 seconds to the finish line. The sprinter must now finalise his team's preparatory work. Timing and speed are crucial to success. The more explosive the final rider is, the more difficult it is for the following riders to get past. A less explosive finisher needs as high an approach speed as possible in order to maintain the lead.
