TdF stragegy question - breakaways

[jacksonpt]

What are teams/riders hoping for when they initiate or participate in a breakaway? What's the strategy?

[Wumpus]

What are teams/riders hoping for when they initiate or participate in a breakaway? What's the strategy?

To win the race.






*The peleton likes for a break to get away because it usually stops more attacks from happening. They then reel them in close to the finish to set it up for the sprinters.

[douglas]

plus tv/media coverage

[Westy]

And just sometimes they work, although I have never seen one do it in the first week, except for Mattias whats his face.

[The Toninator]

verinque did it.

poor MAGNUS! he's been in many rarely resulting in a win.

[Heidi]

Hope baby, it's all about hope. Sometimes it just works out.

[The Toninator]

MAGNUS! weights 211.62 lbs.

[Heidi]

Yep, he's a BIG dude. I'd love to be in a break with him!

[MMcG]

So far not so good for those breakaway riders.

Robbie McEwen is killin it so far - but he can't climb the steep stuff right?

I wasn't planning on watching all that much this year, but I've been on vacation all this week, so I've caught a great deal of coverage. McEwen can haul ass in those sprints!!

[Heidi]

Yah, he isn't so good in the mountians. He's doing simply awesome. He's at something like 11 Giro stage wins and 11 Tour stage wins now - that's sweet!

[MMcG]

what place is Hincapie in right now?

I didn't watch much today. Just caught the end of the stage after returning from miniature golf with my kids.

[Zutroy]

McEwen is starting to look Chipoesque

[reflux]

Yep, he's a BIG dude. I'd love to be in a break with him!
There's nothing quite like a barn door for a draft--sit up and take a load off while going 25+.

[Heidi]

what place is Hincapie in right now?

I didn't watch much today. Just caught the end of the stage after returning from miniature golf with my kids.

5th - 25 seconds back.

[sanjuro]

One thing to understand about tour sponsorship is that the more time a team can get into the spotlight is more advertising for their sponsor.

I think this differs than lets say Nascar, which more focused on the drivers. In comparison, few fans know that Discovery is owned by Tailwind Sports, and they seek out sponsors like Disco and USPS.

Anyway, teams which have no chance of winning the Tour or one of the jerseys, like the Green Jersey, will send riders on early breaks. The chances of succeeding are minimal (although it does happen, in the case of Greg Lemond's teammate Vincent Barteau), but it does get the team sponsor on the cameras.

[jacksonpt]

Anyway, teams which have no chance of winning the Tour or one of the jerseys, like the Green Jersey, will send riders on early breaks. The chances of succeeding are minimal (although it does happen, in the case of Greg Lemond's teammate Vincent Barteau), but it does get the team sponsor on the cameras.
Ah, that makes sense...

[Wumpus]

Finally a breakaway succeeded in this Tour de France. AG2R-Prevoyance rider Sylvain Calzati, a Frenchman with an Italian name (an unusual combination on the eve of the World Cup final) rode clear of a six man breakaway with 32 kilometres to go.

Riding into strong, gusty winds, Calzati refused to be dragged back, as all other breaks have been this Tour. Finn Kjell Carlström (Liquigas) and Frenchman Patrice Halgand (Crédit Agricole) managed to just hold off the flying peloton to take second and third.

At the post race press conference, Calzati stunned the French media when he was asked how important a French win was on the eve of the French hopes in the World Cup "I'm sorry to disappoint you but I'm barracking for Italy," Calzati said.


btw -- Paul Sherwen said the ride at the front for advertisers in hoo-haa and that if you are in a break you are trying to win the race.