Training for fast start at World XC

It's because in the past the XC champs, with nine man teams, always started with a chimney start, 2-2-2-2-1. With smaller teams, I'm not sure if they do that anymore?

I think u have to take a look at where you hope to finish. If your looking for a top 25 finish you have to get out very fast.

If your looking to finish in the top 30-50 you can go out more conservative.

I have tried going out like a bat out of hell(top 40), as well as started in close to last(slightly faster than a 3min km). Both instances were on fast courses by european standards.

I had success going out slowwww. Granted i would of never been able to finish top 20 with that strategy.

As for training strategies, I think your best bet is to practice going out very hard in races. You will have to run the opening 400m in sub 56 (in switzerland i was watching the jr mens race--top 50 went through the first 400m in 56ish), and the opening 800m in sub 2min if you want to be up there. Believe me the pace does slow, but for most athletes in the field they do not have the opportunity to recover.

Good luck

they used a chimney start as recently as 2000, with 6-man teams. 2-2-2.

It's a smart idea to do some good racing before going to World Cross. Track is ideal but road races can serve a purpose. It is very fast and being race sharp with speedy legs can go a long way to handling the initial discomfort before settling into the pace which is stiff enough anyway. Bottom line: don't go in underraced. Look at history and see what the best Americans, men and women, did prior to their success at world cross.