Getting out every last drop of power

Sprinting is about putting out maximum power, which lies between maximum force on the pedals and maximum cadence. Many good sprinters find that point at a cadence between 110rpm and 140rpm. The key is finding the right gear to push up into that range for a sustained effort: changing in the middle of a 10-second throwdown is inadvisable at best and downright dangerous at worst.

Once you’ve settled on the right gear for the road and conditions, hop up out of the saddle, get in the drops and bend your elbows to pull your upper body down, and put your utmost through the pedals, pushing the handlebars down and outwards to balance the force on the cranks until your legs and lungs scream ‘no more’.

If you’re sprinting in an online race, not only does your bike being immovable make a difference to how you react, the quirks of the game and the way virtual drafting works mean that sprints need to last just that little bit longer.

Jon Mould, a prolific winner on Zwift, said: “On the turbo, I struggle to hit the peaks I normally would on the road, so the longer anaerobic sprint, a high 25-30 seconds, works better for me. The only way you improve that is by riding Zwift or any type of e-racing, practising sprinting on the turbo and working out which works best for you.

“Some people kick really hard and spin it to hold the watts, and some people put it in the 11 and just churn a gear over, which is unconventional but can keep the power up there.”