MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
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I normally don't watch Road cycling but I've just flicked over to eurosport to watch a bit of the Giro. So for a complete novice can someone give me a quick crash course in what's going on?
4 riders have spent a fair while busting a gut to form a "break away" but for the whole time the commentators have been referring to the fact that they will be caught? So what's the point in the break in the first place?
Cycling is all about pleasing the sponsors, if you are in a break, then you are on the TV, and sometimes the breaks don't get caught.
Yesterdays Tour of California stage was won by the Mountains classification leader from a break that the bunch miscalculated and never caught.
Ahh, I thought they must get points or something for being in the lead for a bit! 🙂
Professional riders getting their team sponsors' name on the telly/in the media.
Or maybe they want a pay rise/new contract next year.
I thought they must get points or something for being in the lead for a bit
That's true too - they can also hoover up a few points (mountains, sprint) on the way, either for themselves or tactically, ie to prevent guys back in the bunch getting them.
In the Giro, there is a prize for the longest break away rider of the day: http://inrng.com/2014/05/giro-prizes-2014/
They do sometimes win the stage - Tour of California today as well (Taylor Phinney), Womens Tour the other day (Ratto), both had breaks that stuck - there is a possibility that the stage tomorrow might have a break that stays away.
I would take what the commentators on Euro sport say with a pinch of salt - they generally over play the hand of the best known names, and play down the chances of everyone else, to the point that it gets a bit dull.
Thanks, sounds like chess on a bike..... Will make the effort to try and keep up with the remainder of the race
Chess on a bike isn't a bad analogy actually. Add in a few division or unoffical allegiances within the peloton and it becomes even more complex.
IANAR:
breakaways are good for nearly everyone - spectators, sponsors, tv but also the main contenders in the race. Once a break is properly away, the peloton usually calms down and bimbles along behind them without many major attacks, so everyone gets a rest and maybe avoids massive pile-ups. A break is hardly ever let away if a major contender is in it, since the other contenders chase it down.
Peloton "knows" it can catch them eventually and the sprinters' teams will make damned sure they do on a flattish stage. Race radio and team directors having accurate time info has spoilt breakaway racing a bit IMO - they're more certain than they used to be of exactly where everyone is.
Also as well as the reasons mentioned above having a break up the road can control the bunches speed and force certain teams to chase. Theres lot of reasons really.
Some riders manage to stay away most dont. Was it Jan Bakalants who managed to stay away by a few bike lengths in last years tour? Very exciting when this happens.
Other reason for a breakaway might be to hoover up sprint or KOM points to protect a team mate's position in those rankings (ie preventing their close rivals from getting any big point hauls).
Todays stage looks like a prime candidate for a break getting away and staying away. Lumpy pretty much from the get go and with a lot of the peloton hurting from yesterdays crashes I wouldn't be surprised if they just let the break get on with it and not quite pull them back by the end.