Originally Posted by
Laminarman
So I'm really getting into bike racing more the last two years (I don't race, I ride and watch it). I've read quite a few books, and more than once I'll hear a comment such as (names used for demonstration ONLY): "Basso broke away alone and then Hincapie closed the gap to reel him back in..." How the heck does ONE guy reel a guy in who's decided to break away? Is it psychological that the breakaway rider has someone on his tail? Does the drag behind him slow him down? Is it now that other members of the chasing rider will one by one catch up? As I try to increase my knowledge about this amazingly complex team sport, I'm frustrated because NOBODY I know watches or cares about it. That's frustrating as hell. Thanks in advance.
There is no drag from a trailing rider, in fact the opposite is true, there is a very slight aero advantage to having a rider behind you.
The issue is tactical. Riding behind another rider means you are doing 10-20% less work (and it becomes even more for those in a large pack). To keep it simple let's say thisis a one day race. If Hincape is unwilling to work then why would Basso continue to work hard jsut to be sure he and Hincape get to the final sprint with Hincape fresh? Basso does all the work and gets second place.
In a multiday race things get much more complicated, different riders have different goals. In a 2 man break if only one rider is a GC contender tehy may work as a very good team, both get whatever time they beat teh group buy, but that only matters much the the GC contender. They continue to teh very end to gain time. The GC contender gets maximum time gained and he better let teh other get teh stage wwin. (If not no one will trust him in the future).
That riders from different teams can work together in fact contributes to riders being able to ridge to a group ahead. The odds are the group could keep a single chasing rider from catching them, but if they think he would be an asset they may actually slow (a little) to help him across.
On the other hand, if he is a better sprinter than anyone in hte group they may want to prevent him joining, he woul dbe apt to get the win instead of any of them. If it is a multiday event and he is a contender they may want to keep him from catching them because if he is in hte group the teams of the other contenders will respond. (Will, not might, that is why you rarely see a contender trying to bridge to a breakaway at least until they are in serious mountians).
And remember that for the smaller teams even being out front and getting their sponsers name out there is a win.
Try to figure out what each team/rider has to gain and you have a better chance of figuring things out.
Remember it is a team sport and how things impact the team makes a difference.