chiocciolis_calves wrote:HelloDolly wrote:As for finishing high as a team mate we have seen several examples of that in recent years
Kreuziger was 5th (and could have been higher) at the 2013 Tour while burying himself for Contador
Tejay was 4th at the 2012 Tour while working for Cadel Evans
Valverde 3rd riding for Quntana at 2015 Tour
Frank Schleck 3rd riding for Andy at 2011 Tour
Being on or near the podium while riding for another is nothig new but it certainly does not herald a GT winner
Afterall you are unmarked and do not carry the responsibility of leadership.. you can attack at times without being chased or gains seconds ..high places are common in these circumstances if a rider is in top form
At no point did any of those four riders you cite look like the strongest rider in the race. Landa did, particularly by the third week. Review the footage if you doubt me.
We have precious few examples of stronger support riders ignoring team orders and winning GTs (Roche, perhaps Cunego and Aitor Gonzalez) over the past 30 years. It's risky, even if you're headed away from the team after the season is over. If Landa had done that, he'd have been savaged. Pillaged if you do, pillaged if you don't.
He looked stronger in the second week.