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Influence of TV coverage on bike racing strategy?
Yeah, this is a dumb question because the answer is sort of obvious, but how much do you think the desire for TV coverage influences racers' strategies?
From the perspective of the team, the chief goal may be to win, but an important goal is to get camera time for the team and its sponsors, right? So when a team sends riders into the break - or a rider is soloing out in front long before the finish, how much of that is motivated bya desire to get camera time rather than as a winning strategy?
Sure, teams want riders in the breakaway because some times the breakaway riders win. And other times the breakaway riders support team contenders who are able to bridge up or who come to the front once the breakaway fizzles. There are legitimate reasons to want to get riders out ahead or in to the break.