

On average, a breakaway loses one minute of advantage per ten kilometres (6 miles). Or they can just miscalculate the time they need to catch the guys in the front.

After all, the riders at the back can start playing tactical games between them and therefore not be so involved in chasing. I was surprised by how high the success rate was.Įven if all the odds are against the guys up front, they still hope for a miracle.

I analyzed the success rate of breakaways on the three biggest cycling races in a season. Stage type, number of riders in the breakaway, time differences in the general classification, and the riders’ abilities – only the right combination of all these factors will result in a win. Many factors influence the success of a breakaway. While breakaways are mostly doomed to fail, the chances of succeeding are never zero.Ĭyclists know that, and even though they expect to be caught sooner or later, they keep a little faith of winning up until they are actually caught. Winning is always on the mind of a breakaway The original reason for winning stayed on top of the list, but there are still several other reasons to go into one. The jersey hunters join to win KOM and sprint points available that day.īreakaway is as old as cycling itself, but the reasons for going into one changed quite a bit through history. Smaller teams want to show sponsors’ names, some riders join so the teammates save the energy or to create a ‘bridge’ for the attack. The main reason cyclists join the breakaway is to win a race, but that’s not the only reason. So what’s even the point of joining a breakaway? A bunch of riders leave the peloton early on and work hard, just to be caught a few kilometers before the finish line and be forever forgotten by the crowd. Breakaway is one of the most recognizable elements of a cycling race.
