Extreme climbs, dense fields of riders, and mental strength: How to master steep mountain stages with the right race tactics and inner composure.
Anyone who has ever stood before an extremely steep climb or found themselves in a dense field of riders knows: on the mountain, a race is decided not just in the legs, but above all in the head. Recent events in professional cycling impressively show how important mental composure, tactical discipline, and the right pacing are when things get really tough on the mountain. Whether on the road during extreme mountain stages or on demanding off-road tracks – the principles for success are very similar.
How important mental strength is was impressively demonstrated during Stage 9 of the Vuelta a España 2026. Following the injury-induced withdrawal of top favourite Tadej Pogačar, the new leader Enric Mas (Movistar) was under enormous pressure. On the brutal mountain stage over 187.4 kilometres with almost 5,000 metres of climbing (according to Sportschau even 5,213 metres of climbing) and six categorised ascents, his competitors tried to isolate and defeat him on the 22-kilometre-long final climb to the Alto de Aitana. But Mas stayed calm.
According to reports from Cyclingnews, Mas emphasised after his victory that the sports management had guided him mentally outstandingly through the climb from the team car. Instead of reacting in a panic to every early attack, he trusted in his strength, parried his competitors' attacks in a controlled manner, and launched his own, decisive attack 3.2 kilometres before the finish. The four-time Vuelta winner Primož Roglič, who was not yet in top form after a serious training crash, also demonstrated composure: he rode his own pace, limited the gap at the finish to twelve seconds, and thus kept himself in second place in the general classification.
Mads Würtz Schmidt proved that a clear plan and its consistent implementation also lead to the goal off the asphalt at the 2026 UEC Gravel European Championships in Houffalize, Belgium. On a demanding course softened by rainfall over 138 kilometres and 2,190 metres of climbing, the Dane successfully defended his title solo.
According to Cyclingnews and Radsport-News, Würtz Schmidt explained at the finish that he had a precise plan which he stuck to. The course was laid out 70 percent off paved roads, with the climbs concentrated in the first half of each of the three laps to be ridden. Würtz Schmidt paced his race perfectly, attacked in the second half of the race, and rode to a confident solo victory with a lead of over one minute ahead of the Belgian Wout Alleman. In the women's race, Femke Markus (Netherlands) showed how to control an extremely tight race in a dense field: she narrowly prevailed in a thrilling three-way sprint on an uphill finish line.
The performances shown by the pros can easily be translated into concrete tips for your own training and your next ride:
Your takeaway: Pace yourself consciously on long climbs, do not let yourself be thrown off by attacks from others, and trust in your own pace.
This article was generated automatically with AI from the sources listed above and has not been editorially reviewed.