Olympic Cycling: Mens Sprint. What the h**l are they doing???

Question

I dont get it! First they start pedalling really slow and the guy in front almost stops and keeps looking at the guy behind him?? There's something disturbingly g*y about a muscley man with his bum sticking out, lookin over his shoulder at another sweaty men who seems unhealthily interested in his bum. Then, after all that teasing, they finally rush off in a sprint towards the climax of the finishing line. ENLIGHTEN ME! WHAT THE h**l ARE THEY DOIN????

Answer 1

neither cyclist wants to make the first move in case they use up their energy and are overtaken by the other cyclist, except they don't wamt to leave it too late in case the other cyclist is a faster sprinter.Also they don't want the other cyclist behind them as that makes it easier for the other cyclist because he's in the slipstream of the leader. i kinda think that's what's going on, but it is pretty bonkers, like quite a lot of the cycling events actually...but that's what makes it so good!

Answer 2

they want to make it look like a close race to look good in front of the fans

and there looking for lance armstrong just in case he starts racing again

^_^

Answer 3

The guy at the back is trying to get his hamster back out the other guys jacksy

Answer 4

The key to understanding a lot of cycling sport is that you get a major advantage cycling directly behind someone because of the reduction of wind resistance. If you are "in the wheel" of another cyclist you will expend around 30% less effort to travel at the same speed. You may hear this referred to as drafting.

Anyway in sprint they are trying to either take advantage of the other cyclist by following them or else trying to prevent the other from doing the same. Hence the stand-off in the early stages. If one cyclist did not play the cat and mouse game and just raced for the line the other would sit on the others wheel until just before the finish and because they would have much fresher legs win the sprint easily.

Hope this make some sort of sense.

see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drafting_(r... for more information.

Answer 5

That's just the way they do it mate, The cyclist in the front goes slowly as it allows the competitors to slowly warm up and speed up and the  when he thinks it's time he pulls off and allows the cyclists to race.

WELL DONE GB! WHAT A WAY TO SHOOT UP THAT MEDAL TABLE!!

WOOT!

Answer 6

They are waiting to see who makes the first move for the sprint.

Answer 7

they want to make it look good