How many points in a breakaway

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Mother's Day Gifts. The advantage they gain vary from a handful of minutes to 20 or more. No matter what, however, the rhythm of break-chase-catch is embedded into the DNA of all road races as surely as the sun rises and sets. The physical ability of a breakaway artist — to defy a seething peloton by riding alone or in a small group for hundreds of kilometres — is by itself hugely impressive.

But consider the mental fortitude required, especially by the rider trying to shed his confederates, only to be caught and then go again. The golden rule for judging the chances of a breakaway succeeding is the simple formula: 10km equals one minute.

On a steep climb the peloton can make up much more than one minute per 10km, whereas on a descent the opposite is true, but nonetheless this is a good rule of thumb. The hundreds of kilometres that stretch before an early break offer ample time for the escape artist to lose focus, but De Gendt keep his mind constantly turning over.

Whether successful or not, breakaways are what keep cyclists—and viewers—on the edge of their seats and saddles for the majority of a stage race. While inevitable—and more often than not fruitless—they also give us all an underdog to root for. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

The pack will often not stop chasing until the finish line, unless all hope of a catch is clearly lost. There are dozens of examples of breakaways caught in the last few hundred meters, swallowed up by the sprint.

But sometimes, the catch happens earlier than 10km, the pace lags or there is a short final climb, and the pack is vulnerable to a fresh attempt from a fresh rider or group of riders. That day, crosswinds played a big role, and weather often factors in breakaway success.

As rain started to fall on the descent and a tricky finishing stretch with a number of corners, the wet roads disrupted the chase and caused a crash. Whether they end in glory or defeat, breakaways are one of the key animators of the race — maybe THE key animator.

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