1. Trust Your Training
Mental preparation starts months before the first race. The creation of a balanced training plan will help prevent butterflies and doubts come race day. With proper preparation, if it is raining on race day, you will not be worried because you have trained in the rain dozens of times. Is it really hot? You should be used to it from all those steamy training rides.
The hours, sweat and pain you have spent preparing for a race need to count for something. They have prepared you to ride, maintain your cycling strength and, ultimately, succeed in your race. Doubt in one's ability or preparation, although common, is a success killer.
2. Practice Visualization
As you get closer to the race, begin picturing how things will be. Scout out the race course. Ride it to get a feel for the turns and technical parts. Picture yourself surrounded by other riders during the chaotic start. Map out the places where you can get a breather and times to eat or hydrate. Create a mental picture of riding your best race and what it will look like to attain all your race goals.
Think about the millions of golf shots Tiger Woods has taken in his lifetime. Then think about the billions of shots he has pictured in his mind's eye before taking them. From a mental standpoint, the best riders have already seen what success is going to look like. Visualization of your goal and the mental rehearsal of your race are extremely important.
3. Work as a Team
A sense of calm or a sense of uneasiness will permeate through you and your teammates. Having trust in each other is paramount to success. Have team members talk about what it takes to be successful and what they will do to contribute to that success. On the evening before a race, have a team dinner and do a final checkup to start the racing process. When race day comes along, travel to the race together, warm up together and ride to the line together. Throughout the process, keep each other calm and of one belief: success.
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