I've seen some in the TDF that looked like pretty good falls, rolls and other break-falls, and others that need some remedial training. They're world class cyclists but that doesn't mean they necessarily know how to tumble.

Maybe it IS a specialized skill but one that I'm convinced that most cyclists are athletic enough to learn. It's better to practice under supervision than to learn from actual crashes though.

BTW a roll is easier and less jarring if you have some forward momentum than when you go straight down. I'm 57, and if I land solidly on the side of my shoulder, with my arm tucked in, I'd have a good chance of breaking something. Probably the collarbone. If I can move into a roll, at 20 mph or whatever, I'll probably get up without a scratch. Don't disparage it.