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Date Posted: 06:09:39 09/10/04 Fri
Author: Jonathan
Subject: Re: Menchov/Rabobank speculation
In reply to: crit racer 's message, "Re: Menchov/Rabobank speculation" on 05:14:29 09/10/04 Fri

>As others have pointed out, Rabobank worked earlier in
>order to keep Petacchi and Fassa out of the game for
>the final sprint.
>
>Fassa really is the only team in the peloton built
>around "the perfect leadout train" so why would you
>suggest that Rabobank try and take that on? There is
>more to getting stage wins than the old Saeco-style
>leadout trains. Rabobank and Freire proved it by
>getting the win the way they did.

Come on, the lead group consisted of 78 men, and only *one* of them was from Rabobank. That's hardly an 'alternative tactic' when compared to saeco or fassa bortolo! I don't believe for a minute that Freire didn't mind not having a single teammate in miles. They were actually very lucky to win, and the tactics were certainly not the most effective. If all they wanted was that Petacchi could not come back, they were actually more doing Zabel a favor, as well as O'Grady, rather than Freire. What team is going to contest the sprint by knocking itself mostly out of competition? The fact that Freire actually did win doesn't change it, because it is still not smart from a tactical point of view. Rabobank's effort begs more explanation than just to give Freire a chance.

Teammates in sprinting are not an all-or-nothing deal: a few are better than none at all. If a sprinter doesn't have the luxury of a train of teammates, he still rather have some with him, to clear the way should he lose a few places in a turn or if another line proves to be faster. The tactic I enjoy most is when a teammate is in a sprinter's wheel and just stops when his leader accellerates. I think this happened in De Panne earlier this year. Point is: don't make the mistake the mistake of thinking that sprinters are either completely alone or with five teammates in front of them.

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