I am always fascinated how the TdF peloton can move along so rapidly (45-50km/h) with sometimes only one or two riders taking the pulls, and how that peloton can make up so much time on a breakaway duo working together. Maybe this explains it! A ship (the peloton) 150 metres long will move faster that a 3-metre non-planing dinghy (the breakaway duo). I suppose it's a matter of whether you can visualise a bunch of riders as constituting a solid mass
The air displacement from a peloton is quite remarkable if you have the chance to stand alongside one as it speeds past.