Professional Cycling For the Fans - Benefit of "marking" or going after attacker?

Ok - on Saturday we all saw that Lance was all alone with no support and the comments made on TV (and here) were that he needed his team to counter the attacks of Vino, etc. I don't understand this - why does having someone other than lance go after a breakaway attack hurt the attack? It doesn't slow down the attacker . . .

For example, suppose Paolo and Lance are together with Vino and Ulrich and Vino attacks and heads off. Supposedly Paolo would go after him to 'reel him in' but having Paolo go after Vino does not slow him down at all. Why would Vino care if Paolo came after him as long as Lance didn't? He would still put time into Lance - regardless of whether or not Paolo chases him. . .what am I mising here. . .?

Adam

Lance needed another Discovery boy to pace him and break wind for him (most team leaders have a designated teammate to ride infront of them and break wind. I suspect Hincappie is Lance's windbreak). If Lance had a teammate when Vino attacked, the teammate would have set pace.

The team mate will increase his pace and try to catch the attack, shielding the team leader to reduce the team leader's effort. Eventually, the team leader will have to work for himself, but the domestiques are supposed to delay that point as long as possible.

Actually the whole discovery team is LA's windbreak, thats their job, they screwed up by not being around,plus LA will always have that boat anchor Ullrich glued to his wheel as well.In a typical TDF Armstrong will draft for about 98% of it, the only time you will see him breakway is at the base of the final climb, or in a TT, thats the formula they use,and so far nobody else has been able to match or beat it.

I couldnt really understand the importance that the pros like Armstrong give to these break away moves by the competition-as long as you have a good fast team you surely shouldn't have to worry about what your competitors are doing at all- just blast away as fast as you can and protect your fastest rider so he can get the quickest time- they must know by now more or less what the competion can do and more or less what they have to do to win

I couldnt really understand the importance that the pros like Armstrong give to these break away moves by the competition-as long as you have a good fast team you surely shouldn't have to worry about what your competitors are doing at all- just blast away as fast as you can and protect your fastest rider so he can get the quickest time- they must know by now more or less what the competion can do and more or less what they have to do to win

its part of the chess match

One key way it is useful to have teammates heading up a final climb with you such as was the case this weekend is; That teammate will set such a tempo that attacks can not be made, while still providing a wheel for Lance. Eki, Ace, and Landis have done a great job of this in the past and are the reason why a situation such as Sat. hs not played out time after time, I can only recall such a situation one other time when attacks were as fast and furious.

I couldnt really understand the importance that the pros like Armstrong give to these break away moves by the competition-as long as you have a good fast team you surely shouldn't have to worry about what your competitors are doing at all- just blast away as fast as you can and protect your fastest rider so he can get the quickest time- they must know by now more or less what the competion can do and more or less what they have to do to win

An attacker might be going all out for a stage or points gain with no thought to GC placement; i.e., burning themselves out today knowing they'll be hurting tomorrow and the next day. If your team responds to every attack by blasting away as fast as they can, they risk burning themselves out as well.

Ok - on Saturday we all saw that Lance was all alone with no support and the comments made on TV (and here) were that he needed his team to counter the attacks of Vino, etc. I don't understand this - why does having someone other than lance go after a breakaway attack hurt the attack? It doesn't slow down the attacker . . .

For example, suppose Paolo and Lance are together with Vino and Ulrich and Vino attacks and heads off. Supposedly Paolo would go after him to 'reel him in' but having Paolo go after Vino does not slow him down at all. Why would Vino care if Paolo came after him as long as Lance didn't? He would still put time into Lance - regardless of whether or not Paolo chases him. . .what am I mising here. . .?

Adam

Vino Goes. Lance chases. If Lance is alone the best way is usually hard and fast. If it keeps up the wear on him will eventually mean he can not catch someone and then the real trouble starts.

Now with a teammate or two.

Someone jumps. The teammate chases him down, but not quite as quickly and being sure Lance gets his wheel. Lance uses a little extra energy, but not all that much. 3 or 4 attacks down the road that teammate can not catch the guy, but Lance is 3 or 4 attacks ahead. (With good communication Lance may chase down number 3 himself letting his teammate rest then perhaps teammate does the work fot the next 2).

Just having the teammate decreases the chances of an attack.

Then there are the non contenders. If one of them goes Lance really does not want to chase, no tworth the energy. But once gone there is a risk. If later a contender gets away and catches the non contender up the road they will work as a team. If Lance has a team mate cover the non contender it does two things. First the non contender is hopin for a stage win, with someone else sitting on his wheel he is unlikely to get it and may decide the effort is no longer worht it. If he does continue Lance also has his teammate as help up the road, and Lance's help is the fresher rider.

Another, more subtle details to consider is that having a teammate with you increases the size of the group in a favorable way. Consider the extereme case of finishing at the back of the bunch in a big group finish -- the rider still gets the same time. Having a teammate or two to initiate the chase of an escaping opponent gives the the rider a little extra time to react. Small, but I think, ultimately useful. In addition, the teammate provides a little bit of a draft even uphill which would not be there if the opponent's break was well-timed. This stuff can add-up, IMO.

Anyhow, I think it's mostly psychological. :)

One more thing, you all have to remember that most attacks involve going anaerobic. Speed is not linearly related to your effort. You use up something 18x as much resources per unit of energy produced (yes, going anerobic is very inefficient). This adds all sorts of complications. The rest is left to the student. :D