Learn from the best. Don’t make these mistakes that pro cyclists often make. By Selene Yeager

Straggling In The Back

“Look at the overhead view of the race. There’s a bubble at the front and everyone in there is comfortable. Behind that, there’s a long tail of dudes, and they’re all struggling,” says Phil Gaimon of Optum p/b KBS. “You want to be near the front without being on the front.”

Missing The Lead-out

Mark Cavendish doesn’t get to the line on his own firepower. “Every team has up to six guys who set a hard pace and swing off as they burn out. You want to be behind one who’s going to be there till the end,” says Gaimon. In the last 200 metres, you should be first or second wheel.

Bickering With Rivals

Winners work with competitors as well as teammates to launch successful breakaways. “Break riders must come to an agreement on length of pulls and work together,” says Robin Farina of BMW p/b Happy Tooth Dental Group Cycling Team. If you start bickering and not cooperating, you get swallowed up.

Getting Rid Of Bottles

Riders sometimes toss nearly empty water bottles at the base of a big climb to lighten up. Even the pros can benefit from a couple of sips over the course of a long climb, and the extra weight is negligible. At 700ml, however, a full bottle could slow you down. So sip regularly before the road heads skyward.

Blowing Up Too Soon

The Tour’s top contenders have learned where they need to be drafting, or where they need to be working so they can sit in later. Team Sky’s Chris Froome will let non-threatening competitors go up the road without chasing. He’ll also pay attention to wind direction, and adjust accordingly.

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