Breakaway attempt
The term breakaway attempt , also called an attack , describes in cycling the attempt to break away from the main field or from a group of cyclists , to distance them and to reach the goal with a lead.
Since up to 30% of the power to be applied can be saved in cycling on the flat by so-called slipstream driving on the rear wheel of other riders, it is almost impossible to distance other riders of about the same strength by only moderately increasing the speed. This is only possible on long, steep inclines.
Consideration of the route profile
Breakaway attempts on the plane
In flat or slightly wavy terrain, an attack should always take place where particular difficulties on the route favor it: headwind , especially in the form of the dreaded wind edge , poor road surface, especially cobblestones , narrow routing in through town traffic, curves. Curvy or densely populated or wooded passages are also advantageous because the outliers disappear from view after a few kilometers alone and the counter-strategies of the pursuers are thus made more difficult.
Breakaway attempts on the mountain
In this context, a mountain is understood to mean everything from small hills to crossing Alpine passes, as the situation fundamentally differs from the plain in that the above-described, overriding role of air resistance on inclines is only of little relevance due to the lower travel speeds . This means that the less explosive and surprisingly presented forms of attack come into question, but the tactical spectrum also extends considerably further here: the attack can be achieved by increasing the speed evenly, by changing from high to less high speed ("attrition tactics"), but also by a sudden start be presented. The latter can even be an advantage on steep ramps, as Lance Armstrong proved several times in the Tour de France .
You can start at a difficult point or at the end of the incline. If a driver starts at the end of a mountain, he should have a particularly good knowledge of the route so that he can defend the lead. The short climbs of the Flemish classics , for example, are particularly well suited , followed by wind-open, winding sections of the route, on which the pursuers lose eye contact and are prevented from organized pursuit work. This tactic can be clearly observed on the Tour of Flanders , where two inclines in particular were used by many later winners to make the decisive attack: The Muur , the Wall of Geraardsbergen , an extremely steep cobblestone section at the end of the village, and the last incline of the Rennens, the only 1.1 km long and moderately rising Bosberg .
A variant of the attack on inclines can also be used if the inclines are steep but short of no more than a few hundred meters. The attacker uses the high speed at which the field drives into the incline and then starts at the moment when the drivers gradually shift into lower gear ratios. The attacker, on the other hand, “leaves the aisle standing”, i.e. In other words, it does not shift or even shifts to a higher gear ratio and overcomes the "mountain" at the maximum possible speed. If the terrain becomes flatter again, he can accelerate without changing gear or rhythm and so initially "tear the hole".
Tactical aspects and types of attack
It not only depends on the timing (as surprising as possible and / and in difficult places), but also on the preparation for the attack. In professional sport , it is up to the helpers of the “captains” to prepare attacks at a consistently high speed. In the mountain stages of large tours , the approaches to the large mountains, which are still relatively moderate ascent percentages, often turn into a veritable "elimination race", in which it is important that a captain keeps one or two good helpers with him until the decisive pass trips . During the last decisive kilometers, the attacker can take some time off the rear wheel of his helper, while the opponent, isolated from his comrades, is condemned to passivity. In the end, a slight increase in tempo is often enough to finally shake off the opponent.
With regard to tactical measures, the following variants can mainly be distinguished:
- Explosive surprise attack
- "Sneaking away": In this variant, there is apparently no attack and, especially in confusing terrain, the opponents' indecision is used to gradually distance themselves.
- Sham attack: Serves to wear down the opponent in preparation for the final attack.
- Teammate attack: This attack, which alternates between team members, is particularly suitable when both drivers are roughly equally good or are equally good in the overall classification in a stage race, so that the opponents have to react to both drivers.
The attack over the last 1000 meters before the goal should also be mentioned. Here the attacker either uses the opponent's indecision or tries to be faster than the sprint moves . Since they like to keep the outlier on the "long leash" (the field is easier to control), it happens from time to time that they miscalculate and the attacker can save a narrow but decisive second advantage over the target.