Paceline
Purpose: Practice smooth and efficient rotation in a paceline.
How: Riders take short pulls (15–30 sec), peel off to the windward side, and rotate to the back.
Focus: Steady speed, no surges, clear communication.
Lead-Out Practice
Purpose: Simulate sprint finishes with a structured lead-out train.
How: Riders line up in sprint order; each does a pull and peels off.
Focus: Timing, acceleration, coordination.
Echelon Formation (Crosswind Drill)
Purpose: Practice drafting in crosswinds.
How: Form diagonal paceline based on wind direction.
Focus: Wind reading, spacing, sheltering.
“Missing Man” Drill
Purpose: Adapt to changes in group size mid-ride.
How: Random rider drops out; group adjusts paceline.
Focus: Flexibility, rotation efficiency.
Surge & Settle
Purpose: Mimic race surges and recovery.
How: One rider surges, then returns to the group.
Focus: Acceleration, control, regrouping.
No-Talk Drill
Purpose: Strengthen non-verbal communication.
How: Ride a section in silence.
Focus: Body language, eye contact, anticipation.
“Snake” Handling Drill
Purpose: Practice tight turns and reactive steering.
How: Riders mimic the line of the rider in front through side-to-side motions.
Focus: Precision, following, handling.
Chase Groups
Purpose: Simulate chase and breakaway dynamics.
How: Group splits; chasing group works together to bridge.
Focus: Timing, teamwork, rotation.
Pace Line with Speed Changes
Purpose: Build adaptability.
How: Designate speed changes every few minutes.
Focus: Reaction, pacing, group coordination.
Sprint Intervals from Group
Purpose: Simulate real race sprints.
How: Call out sprint points; riders launch and regroup.
Focus: Explosiveness, positioning, recovery.
Rotating Leadouts (Sprint Trains)
Purpose: Train multiple riders for sprint finishes.
How: Repeat sprints with rotating final sprinter.
Focus: Rotation depth, sprint timing, role switching.
Box Drill
Purpose: Practice maintaining position in a tight group.
How: Riders form a compact square, keeping formation.
Focus: Balance, spacing, awareness.
Climb & Regroup Drill
Purpose: Simulate real-world climbing efforts.
How: Riders climb at their own pace, regroup at the top.
Focus: Pacing, regrouping, descending safety.
Hill Sprints
Purpose: Build power on gradients.
How: Sprint all-out up a short hill; recover and repeat.
Focus: Power, technique, anaerobic capacity.
Standing Start Sprints
Purpose: Develop explosive start power.
How: Start from a dead stop in a big gear and sprint.
Focus: Torque, gear control, bike handling.
Over-Unders in Pairs
Purpose: Simulate threshold efforts with surges — like chasing or attacking.
How: One rider maintains steady tempo (just below threshold), while the other does short “over” efforts (30–60 sec) before tucking back in to recover. Switch roles every 3–5 minutes.
Focus: Pacing, intensity control, smooth transitions.
Town Sign Sprints (Points Race Style)
Purpose: Add a competitive, race-like element to group rides.
How: Sprint for every town sign. Assign points (e.g. 3–2–1 or winner-takes-all). Track casually or announce a “champion” at the end.
Focus: Sprint timing, awareness, positioning, fun.
Rotating Pairs Drill
Purpose: Practice teamwork and rotation in small groups.
How: Ride in pairs, with the front pair pulling for 1–2 minutes before peeling off together and rotating to the back.
Focus: Communication, timing, side-by-side coordination.
“Catch the Rabbit”
Purpose: Build chase skills and simulate small breakaway scenarios.
How: One rider (or pair) gets a head start. The group behind works together to catch them within a set distance.
Focus: Pacing, strategy, collaboration.
Paired Attacks
Purpose: Mimic in-race team tactics.
How: In a larger group, assign two riders to work together to launch alternating attacks. Others react or try to hold wheels.
Focus: Aggressive tactics, explosive efforts, coordination.
“Powless” Drill
Purpose: Practice race tactics, teamwork, and creative problem-solving.
How: One rider is designated as the “captain” (e.g. Neilson Powless-style underdog). The rest of the group is tasked with preventing them from winning a designated sprint or segment. The captain must use tactics, surprise, or smart drafting to overcome being outnumbered.
Focus: Strategy, racecraft, underdog resilience, teamwork dynamics.
“Van der Poel Launch”
Purpose: Train explosive, unpredictable race-winning moves.
How: Riders ride steady tempo until someone (the “MVDP”) launches a brutal, all-out attack from a distance (e.g., 1–2 km before a segment or town sign). The rest react late — just like in a real race.
Focus: Raw power, tactical surprise, solo finish mentality.
“Pogacar Chaos Mode”
Purpose: Train attack–recover–attack repeatability.
How: Designate one rider as “Pogi” — their job is to randomly attack or surge at any moment, especially on short climbs or rollers. The rest must adapt and respond in real-time.
Focus: Agility, unpredictable surges, race sharpness, recovery under stress.
“Thore Davies Burnout Drill”
Purpose: Simulate what happens when you go all-in too early — and build grit for surviving after blowing up.
How: On a short race simulation circuit (3–5 laps), one rider is designated as “Thore.” Their job is to absolutely empty the tank on Lap 1 — attack, pull, surge — like they’re winning Flanders. After that, they have to hang on and survive the rest of the race.
Focus: Pacing awareness, recovery under pressure, never-say-die mentality.
Shoulder-to-Shoulder Line Fight
Purpose: Build confidence and control when riding in physical contact with others.
How: Two riders ride side by side with light shoulder contact, competing to hold or take a central line while staying balanced. Can also be done with a third rider trying to squeeze through.
Focus: Balance, assertiveness, contact tolerance, bike handling under pressure.
Team Time Trial (TTT)
Purpose: Build group cohesion and pacing for speed.
How: Single line, longer controlled pulls at threshold.
Focus: Aero position, even effort, smooth transitions.
“Lukas Pull Patrol”
Purpose: Highlight the dangers of doing too much work and teach energy conservation and drafting.
How: Lukas (or any designated “front-sitter”) is required to stay off the front for the entire first half of the ride. The group must maintain tempo without letting him pull. In the second half, he can pull — but only for limited, timed intervals.
Focus: Drafting discipline, energy management, group pacing dynamics.
Anti-Style
Purpose: Break riding habits and force riders out of their comfort zones.
How: Each rider identifies their typical group ride style (e.g., always pulling, always hiding, always attacking late) — then does the exact opposite for the entire ride or segment. Leadout kings must sit in, diesel engines must surge, wheelsuckers must pull.
Focus: Versatility, tactical awareness, challenging personal defaults.
“Dr. Dam’s Gutter Drill”
Purpose: Simulate brutal crosswind racing with no mercy — just like the echelons of northern Europe.
How: On a windy stretch, designate Dr. Dam (or another rider) as the pacemaker. They ride full gas with the wind coming from the side, forcing the group all the way into the gutter — leaving no shelter. Rotate the pacemaker and make the rest fight for position.
Focus: Positioning, echelon formation, fighting for wheels, mental toughness.
Duel of the Captains
Purpose: Practice teamwork, protecting a leader, and executing race tactics.
How: Split the group into two teams, each with a designated captain. The goal is to get your captain to win a sprint, KOM, or finish line. Teammates can lead out, attack, block, chase, or sacrifice themselves — all to help their captain succeed.
Focus: Team tactics, leadout dynamics, communication, strategy under pressure.
Lapping on the Left Drill
Purpose: Teach race-legal overtaking etiquette.
How: Riders overtake each other only on the left, practicing safe pass distance.
Focus: Positioning, rules adherence, communication.
Silent Paceline
Purpose: Deepen group rhythm and body language awareness.
How: Do a rotating paceline with no talking, only hand signals.
Focus: Non-verbal cues, group timing, focus.
Gap Close Drill
Purpose: Improve reaction to dropped wheels.
How: Random rider drops back, then sprints to close gap to group.
Focus: Acceleration, drafting, decision-making.
Rotation Under Pressure
Purpose: Practice paceline discipline when tired.
How: Do rolling turns after an interval or hard effort.
Focus: Fatigue handling, precision, communication under stress.
Eliminator Drill
Purpose: Increase awareness and spatial positioning.
How: Last rider in a paceline gets called out and must sprint past the group and slot back in.
Focus: Acceleration, bike handling, timing.
?