Leviathan
06-18-04, 09:33 AM
I do not quite understand one aspect of cycling tactics. Why do domestiques chase down breakaways? What do they do when they catch the breakaway? Can someone explain that?
Road Bike Racing - tactics question
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Laggard
06-18-04, 09:38 AM
In a tour domestiques will typically work to pull the peloton up to the break only if there is a rider in the break who is a danger to their team leaders overall GC. Another situation is when a team with a strong sprinter works to bring the peloton together so that the sprinter has a chance. You saw this at the Giro this year when Fasa would spend the last hour of the race chasing down the break so that Peta had a shot at winning.
Sometimes you'll see a lone rider trying to bridge a gap to a break. Usually his director has asked him to do this so that they will have at least one rider in the group. Or sometimes they'll send a rider up the road to help a teammate in the break.
Bike racing is a wonderfully tactical sport.
Sometimes you'll see a lone rider trying to bridge a gap to a break. Usually his director has asked him to do this so that they will have at least one rider in the group. Or sometimes they'll send a rider up the road to help a teammate in the break.
Bike racing is a wonderfully tactical sport.
don d.
06-18-04, 10:32 AM
And if a domestique catches a break that threatens his team leader in the peloton, he will just "sit in", meaning he will not work or ride hard on the front when his turn to pull comes up in the paceline. Then the other riders are faced with a dilemma.
"Do we all continue working knowing that this guy will be fresh at the finish and more likely to win or do we just give up now".
If the domestique is Vino, they all give up now. If it is Boogerd, they all know they can beat him in the sprint anyway, so they keep riding hard. :D
Sorry Laggard, had to throw that in there. :)
In addition, a domestique can disrupt the paceline by not pulling through and doing coy little things like letting gaps open in the paceline.
"Do we all continue working knowing that this guy will be fresh at the finish and more likely to win or do we just give up now".
If the domestique is Vino, they all give up now. If it is Boogerd, they all know they can beat him in the sprint anyway, so they keep riding hard. :D
Sorry Laggard, had to throw that in there. :)
In addition, a domestique can disrupt the paceline by not pulling through and doing coy little things like letting gaps open in the paceline.
BikeInMN
06-18-04, 10:57 AM
I do not quite understand one aspect of cycling tactics. Why do domestiques chase down breakaways? What do they do when they catch the breakaway? Can someone explain that?
"Racing Tactics for Cyclists" by Thomas Prehn
Great book that will answer all your questions and more. If you plan on racing, it's a must read if you don't want to learn every little lesson the hard way.
"Racing Tactics for Cyclists" by Thomas Prehn
Great book that will answer all your questions and more. If you plan on racing, it's a must read if you don't want to learn every little lesson the hard way.
jfmckenna
06-18-04, 11:58 AM
"Do we all continue working knowing that this guy will be fresh at the finish and more likely to win or do we just give up now".
Or you can send one of the fresh guys in the break back and drop him off sprint back and cycle around till he gives up.
Or you can send one of the fresh guys in the break back and drop him off sprint back and cycle around till he gives up.