Echelons in GT's are only relevant in the last 30 or 40kms of a stage as if they occur any earlier, teams will not waste their energy riding hard for 70,80 or 90 kms.
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Echelons in GT's are only relevant in the last 30 or 40kms of a stage as if they occur any earlier, teams will not waste their energy riding hard for 70,80 or 90 kms.
Stage 7 in 2020, although that was more to do with the maillot vert battle than the GC contenders and had Sam Bennett not been dropped it would probably have been down to the last 30-40km, as the start of the stage and the last 30km or so were exposed to the wind, but Bora drilled it early for Sagan and when QS couldn't get Bennett across the gap, they persisted - with it coming after two neutralised stages the riders were all fresh and with the upcoming two stages being mountain stages, the GC teams did not want to expend domestiques, so had Bennett made the selection all impetus would have been lost after that first stretch where the echelons were formed and it would have likely come back together and then followed formula until the last stretch where the roads were exposed again, but as he didn't and Bora persisted, racing stayed at a high pace all day.Stages with + 80-90 echelon action since 2010:
Saint Amand Montrond - TdF 2013
Guadalajara - Vuelta España 2019 (Full stage)
Stages with +50 echelon action since 2010:
Middleburg - Giro 2010
Neetle Jans - TdF 2015
I'm probably missing some stages, but those quickly came to mind.
The way Bora and Sagan animated those kind of stages in the 2020 Tour totally made up for their obsession with the boring Zabel-jersey...Stage 7 in 2020, although that was more to do with the maillot vert battle than the GC contenders and had Sam Bennett not been dropped it would probably have been down to the last 30-40km, as the start of the stage and the last 30km or so were exposed to the wind, but Bora drilled it early for Sagan and when QS couldn't get Bennett across the gap, they persisted - with it coming after two neutralised stages the riders were all fresh and with the upcoming two stages being mountain stages, the GC teams did not want to expend domestiques, so had Bennett made the selection all impetus would have been lost after that first stretch where the echelons were formed and it would have likely come back together and then followed formula until the last stretch where the roads were exposed again, but as he didn't and Bora persisted, racing stayed at a high pace all day.
It might have been just about the best stage of that edition of the Tour tbh.
Ofcourse a strong SE would have been absolutely magnificent, now it's SW, resulting in suppressed action both along the coast and on the bridge, but with this wind speeds, riders fully exposed 70 meters above the water, I can't see anything else than splits and a very hard day for some riders.
I fully endorse watching from at least 50K out.
And for the lack of any interest on seemingly anybody's part in any of the other jerseys including the yellow one.The way Bora and Sagan animated those kind of stages in the 2020 Tour totally made up for their obsession with the boring Zabel-jersey...
So, honestly, and I'm not going to blame you if you are wrong: should I keep an eye on the race because of possible echelons or are the chances so slim I better just go my day and look at the last 10k?
Does the NK tegenwindfietsen count?How often will you get the chance to see a race on a 20 k bridge?
How often will you get the chance to see a race on a 20 k bridge?
Yes, let's stop the peloton right in the middle of a maskless crowd, just for ceremonial politic reasons.
What could possibly go wrong.
That Vuelta stage was incredibleStages with + 80-90 echelon action since 2010:
Saint Amand Montrond - TdF 2013
Guadalajara - Vuelta España 2019 (Full stage)
Stages with +50 echelon action since 2010:
Middleburg - Giro 2010
Neetle Jans - TdF 2015
I'm probably missing some stages, but those quickly came to mind.