Talking Tactics: When the fox escapes the hounds

It is a scenario we have seen time and time again at the end of flat stages. The day’s breakaway has been caught and, as teams start to think about winding up to set up the sprint, an opportunist attacks off the front only to be subsequently caught by the swarming bunch. Why do they bother with such a futile effort? They do it because occasionally – just occasionally – such moves actually succeed.

Belkin’s Mark Renshaw managed just that on Monday on the opening stage of the Eneco Tour. Here’s how he did it.

Continue reading