Professional Cycling For the Fans - How does a team control the front of the peloton?

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xfimpg
07-19-09, 06:14 AM
Hi Everyone
Just wondering how a team manages to take control the front of the peloton.
I understand it's mostly tactical as other teams would prefer to let them work against the wind.

But say Astana is controlling the front, what prevents a Columbia or Garmin front amassing their men and taking control of the front, ie. move over boys.?

Thanks for your insights
Mike

rogwilco
07-19-09, 06:30 AM
Well, basically the guys who ride the fastest are at the front. ;)
xfimpg
07-19-09, 06:59 AM
Well, basically the guys who ride the fastest are at the front. ;)

That's it?? Whoever rides that fastest leads? Well I'll be darned.

rogwilco
07-19-09, 07:18 AM
Depending on the situation it can be different, but yeah, usually it's that simple.

If your team wants to be at the front, noone's preventing you (at least as long as everyone is keeping it professional), but if you're slowing down the peleton, some other team that is interested in going faster will come up and overtake you.

Or if you've seen this year's Tour de France stages where Cavendish won - Columbia was at the front in the final km primarily because no other team could keep up with them - or wanted to for tactical reasons. But if (eg) Garmin had wanted to lead the sprint, and they were able to go faster than Columbia, they could have.
xfimpg
07-19-09, 08:05 AM
Depending on the situation it can be different, but yeah, usually it's that simple.

If your team wants to be at the front, noone's preventing you (at least as long as everyone is keeping it professional), but if you're slowing down the peleton, some other team that is interested in going faster will come up and overtake you.

Or if you've seen this year's Tour de France stages where Cavendish won - Columbia was at the front in the final km primarily because no other team could keep up with them - or wanted to for tactical reasons. But if (eg) Garmin had wanted to lead the sprint, and they were able to go faster than Columbia, they could have.

Muchas Gracias.