What It Takes to Win a National Crit Series Round- Dawlish GP

Clarity

Credit Jason DFPhotography

Frank Longstaff knows his strengths and chooses races that play to them.

When we started working together two years ago, there was one goal that was clear: win a round of the National Criterium Series. That objective shaped a lot of what we did. We identified the training required, he selected the right races to build confidence, and he used each event as an opportunity to refine his process.

From day one, Frank has been clear that his best performances need to happen in races, not in training. Training exists to prepare him for those moments. He's comfortable missing the occasional session when life demands it because he trusts the bigger picture. That confidence allows him to arrive on the start line knowing he'll be ready when it matters most.

Persistence

Last year, Frank came close with two podium finishes. This season he was third at Colne GP and sixth at the National Criterium Championships. Each time we spoke and reviewed races, our conversations often stayed the same: trust you’ve done the work and keep executing the processes.

We knew he was physically ready. We knew he understood the tactics. Technically, he was riding at a very high level. The final step wasn't finding another training session or chasing better numbers—it was continuing to trust that, if he kept doing the right things, the result would eventually come.

Last Friday, it did.

Perspective

Credit SW Pix

One of Frank's greatest strengths is his ability to separate himself from his results.

Cycling is something he exceptionally good at, but it isn't his entire identity. He has a balanced life away from the bike that allows him to switch off, recover mentally, and return with full commitment when it's time to train or race.

That perspective matters. When athletes feel as though everything is on the line every time they pin on a number, it's incredibly difficult to relax and perform freely. Frank's ability to enjoy the process, regardless of the outcome, gives him the freedom to race with confidence.

Numbers

People will talk about the power data. They'll analyse the winning move and the numbers behind it. It’s rarely a topic we speak about. The numbers are an outcome, not the objective. They are the product of consistently executing the right processes day by day, week by week, and month by month.

When training is effective, the results and power takes care of itself.

The outside world celebrates the result and the performance metrics. We focus on continually refining the process, knowing that, over time, everything else will fall into place.