I have not really followed road racing closely until this years Tdf. I have been mountain biking for years, but never paid close attention to any road races. This year I watched one stage on OLN and became hooked. So now I have a strategy/scoring question.
In one stage, i don't remember which one or names at the moment, there was a group that broke away from the peloton. They rode for awhile and had a sizable gap when one of the people in that group was dropped. He couldn't catch up so he was just pissin around until the peloton was going to get where he was.
Why should he do that? Why not finish between the front group and the peloton?
couldn't catch up so he was just pissin around until the peloton was going to get where he was. Why should he do that? Why not finish between the front group and the peloton?
Nothing to be gained (stage win gone and placing in the overall probably not important for him) and everything to lose (costs a lot of energy staying in front of the peloton on your own, tomorrow is another day).
In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...
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Teach me oh great rbr riders... I have not really followed road racing closely until this years Tdf. I have been mountain biking for years, but never paid close attention to any road races. This year I watched one stage on OLN and became hooked. So now I have a strategy/scoring question. In one stage, i don't remember which one or names at the moment, there was a group that broke away from the peloton. They rode for awhile and had a sizable gap when one of the people in that group was dropped. He couldn't catch up so he was just pissin around until the peloton was going to get where he was. Why should he do that? Why not finish between the front group and the peloton?
Because it would have wasted a lot of energy. I say wasted because riding solo uses up more energy than riding in a group. Also, since he was dropped from the lead group you know that he was getting tired. So just taking it easy until the peloton caught him gave him a chance to get some rest. Under the circumstances what he did was the smartest thing to do. ------------- Alex
"Alex Rodriguez" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
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In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden]
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says...
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Teach me oh great rbr riders... I have not really followed road racing closely until this years Tdf. I have been mountain biking for years, but never paid close attention to any road races. This year I watched one stage on OLN and became hooked. So now I have a strategy/scoring question. In one stage, i don't remember which one or names at the moment, there was a group that broke away from the peloton. They rode for awhile and had a sizable gap when one of the people in that group was dropped. He couldn't catch up so he was just pissin around until the peloton was going to get where he was. Why should he do that? Why not finish between the front group and the peloton?
Because it would have wasted a lot of energy. I say wasted because riding solo uses up more energy than riding in a group. Also, since he was
dropped
Quoted message said:
from the lead group you know that he was getting tired. So just taking it easy until the peloton caught him gave him a chance to get some rest.
Under
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the circumstances what he did was the smartest thing to do. ------------- Alex
I agree with the above and add that even if he wasn't fatigued, the best place to go is with either group rather than alone. If he was dropped because of something he could recover from (anything from a flat tire to a sneezing fit or a nature break) then he needs to get with one group or another unless they are already close to the finish.
He might in some cases even drop back if he thinks the break won't make it so that he can work in the main group and set up for the finish with his team (or more of his team). That happens once in a while too. It would be more usual to "sit in" and not work at all but some times the need to be with the team is more important.
In one stage, i don't remember which one or names at the moment, there was a group that broke away from the peloton. They rode for awhile and had a sizable gap when one of the people in that group was dropped. He couldn't catch up so he was just pissin around until the peloton was going to get where he was.
Why should he do that? Why not finish between the front group and the peloton?
1) he does want he wants / what he can 2) If he had no gas to stay with the group, there is few chances that he could stay by him self between the group and the peloton.
3) More seriously: Dropped from the first group, his best bet is to wait quietly for the peloton to catch him up and try to stay with it
I have not really followed road racing closely until this years Tdf. I have been mountain biking for years, but never paid close attention to any road races. This year I watched one stage on OLN and became hooked. So now I have a strategy/scoring question.
In one stage, i don't remember which one or names at the moment, there was a group that broke away from the peloton. They rode for awhile and had a sizable gap when one of the people in that group was dropped. He couldn't catch up so he was just pissin around until the peloton was going to get where he was.
Why should he do that? Why not finish between the front group and the peloton?
One rider on their own cannot ride as fast as a group can as the group will share the work and be able to recover a bit inbetween turns on the front. If in a stage race a rider is dropped from the break and there is still a long distance to the finish they will wait for the peloton rather than expend a lot of energy and end up being caught anyway. Also if they are back in the group they are in a position to help the team leader if required. HTH
