Jodie is the current Victorian Vets Criterium and Road champion in her age group. She has been racing for several years now and likes any event that involves sprinting and not too many hills. She initially used cycling as an important part of her rehabilitation from a mountaineering accident in New Zealand. She then got into racing as a replacement for martial arts in which she represented Australia and won Gold, Silver & Bronze medals in the Martial Arts World Games in 2000. Not all sprint finishes are won by sprinters. There are really 2 variations on finishing a bicycle race sprint. The sort of sprint that you do depends on the type of rider you are:
(1) The long sprint or 'Flyer' which tends to be preferred by the endurance rider.
(2) The short sprint which is the preference generally for the sprinter that likes to be lead to the line with the bunch and sits in. Sometimes referred to as the SOS 'Sit on Sprinter'.
1km to go: The Flyer - for endurance sprinters
Commitment is the key to a successful flyer sprint. Your initial acceleration has to be so violent and powerful that you instantly create a sizable gap to the chasers. The first 20-30 seconds are crucial because almost every flyer starts to gradually slow down in the final 500 meters to the line purely because maintaining the speed and power for 1km is incredibly difficult. The initial effort has to buy you enough of a gap that the chasing field can't reel you back in as you slow down. Creating a big gap right away also discourages other riders from trying bridge to your wheel and then slingshot around you. Also, don't try this from the front of the group as it is too orchestrated and generally just increases the whole groups speed. You want to instead start your sprint from around 5-10 riders back. Surprise is very important, so work on hiding your intentions for as long as possible. Change up into your sprinting gear well before you initiate your attack.
This is the best tactic if you are not a sprinter like Robbie McEwen or Tom Boonen. Use this sprint if the race is coming to a bunch finish and you know that you don't have the ability to accelerate your speed instantly (like the big sprinters) or have a team mate helping you by leading you out to the line.
You cannot save any energy for another sprint in case you get caught, nor can you keep looking behind you to see if the pack is on your heels. Remember, you are totally committed. Once you launch the acceleration, it is full gas and full focus on the road ahead until you either reach the finish line first or get swallowed by the pack.
The flyer is an all-or-nothing attack and can also be used in a breakaway heading for the line. Simon Gerrans did this on stage 15 of tour de France this year. There were 3 riders in the breakaway coming to the line and he was just off the pace, he flew, got the jump on the others, and took them by surprise from attacking from behind. This was a perfectly executed Flyer.
500 meters to go: The Sprint for Sprinters
A sprint is a pretty straight-forward way to win a race (charge toward the finish line like a bull that sees red), but it's anything but simple to accomplish. Sprint finishes are chaotic by nature and can be dangerous even in the best of conditions. Also, not all of us have the full width of the road like the professionals leading up to the finish.
Robbie McEwen has been one of the best sprinters in the game, although perhaps the likes of Mark Cavendish is now the best example of this after his 4 stage wins in this years Tour de France.
One of the keys to the sprint finish is position and having a team mate or friend in the race that can lead you out or give you the right position in the bunch heading to the line. The sprint is a shorter distance than the Flyer but a quicker acceleration is required. This is the sprint for the non-endurance cyclist. Raw power and grunt is required. You need to know how far you can sprint, then if you are bunch coming to the line you need to gage the finishing distance unless there are markers indicating. Once you commit you have no option, there is no second chance. You have to charge to that line. In this type of sprint positioning is very important. You'll want to be in the first few riders but not on the front until you launch your attack. Too far back and you have too much ground to cover to get up the front. Even the best sometimes get the timing wrong. Watch the last sprint of the last stage of the TDF 2008 to see Robbie McEwen, although faster than the other sprinters. Looked like he either left his sprint too late or started it from to far behind. if you watch him closely you'll see him him fad at the end I would. This would suggest that he was just too far back in this particular sprint.
Conclusion
When sprinting keep your focus on the line in front of you. My old karate Sensei used to say where you focus, your energy follows - focus in front and that's where your energy will go.
Remember there is another day. One of the most important parts of sprinting is to hold your line, otherwise the result can be disastrous for the bunch. Many riders get line fever or envelop fever (the prize money). I always contest a sprint when I can although safety and being able to walk away for the race is my first priority.
I would like to thank Chris Carmichael for permission to publish information sourced from here.