"This year, we had a rider go 80 kilometers alone," says De Marchi, "and no one followed him. In short, the group is made up of 180 riders, and most of them don't have any great opportunities. There would be many more possibilities than those that are actually exploited, instead we limit ourselves to the most obvious stages. And this means that in those 5-6 days the whole world wants to go on the run and you find yourself with groups of 30 riders full of second lines who could easily be leaders and are there to play for the stage».
The escapes of the Tour were the inspiration for an interesting comparison with the Friulian of Jayco-AlUla, who built the best moments of his career on great ridesHis last participation in the Grande Boucle dates back to 2020 and the red number he received on the podium in Paris dates back to 2014. Thursday Ben Healy he won the first stage that escaped the group (Opening photo). It took almost 100 kilometers to lead the decisive group, then it was all a matter of timing and legs. A breakaway that forced its way out, as is increasingly the case. Yesterday's run towards the Mur de Bretagne was instead neutralised by the group of the best, who once again chose to run the race.
Is it that difficult to break away at the Tour?
It has always been difficult, but perhaps now the opportunities are even fewer: supply has decreased and demand has increasedAside from those few who monitor the standings and sometimes even gamble on crumbs, now it's all or nothing only on certain days. It's a different story.
Why?
Why first the general classification riders were thinking about the general classification. It happened that the one who threw himself, I remember Contador who every now and then made an attack. But they were sporadic episodes, which didn't upset the race. So the only ones who went on the breakaway were us second line, so to speak, while Now you realize that there's really everything in the leaksLook at the group from which Healy won and there were a lot of champions in it (with Healy there were, among others, Simmons, the winner of the Giro Yates, Van der Poel, Storer, ed.). Days like that become one-day races within a stage raceOn Thursday, it took them 100+ kilometers to get the breakaway going. It's like the approach to a sprint, because the basics are the same, and so is the approach to the route.
Is it easier at the Giro d'Italia?
In reality, everything is becoming standardized. Obviously, there's something more at the Tour, but it was the same 15 years ago. Anyone who had one hundred percent more condition, motivation and desire has always gone to the Tour.And this, multiplied by 200, creates the Tour de France effect. But the substance doesn't change; even at the Giro this year the breakaways were like this. Another thing that has changed a lot is that the breakaways are much more numerous, it is difficult to find one of 5-6 riders.
What changes?
It's a completely different management. In the breakaway, you replicate the race you would usually do in a group.It becomes a question not only of legs, but of strategy, the need to read the race and the movements of others. For me it has always been better to go on fewer escapesMaybe having a large group allows you to get further ahead, but if the group is large, there is also less agreement. On Thursday, Healy picked the right moment and then things unfolded as usual..
What?
The gap is created. Whoever is in front goes at the same speed as whoever is behind, who no longer has the strength to closeThe gaps are frozen, unless one of them blows up, which is increasingly rare to see. So in the end it becomes essential to make the first move and take an immediate advantageThen they don't take you anymore.
How much concentration does it take to escape?
So much, to the point that in the key moments you don't even hear the noise of the crowdYou have to keep everything under control. It's super demanding, nothing different from a race finale, from preparing for a sprint. With tactics you make the difference, because it's one thing to do two and a half hours at full speed, it's another thing to get into the top positions without ever sinking, stay covered and still find yourself on the run having spent a quarter of what the others didThat's something that changes a lot and that used to be done more. Instead I see people who want to escape only on footIt is known that at a given kilometer there is a steep climb or a narrow road, one just waits for that and goes away by force, rarely by cunning or experience.
They are so young on average that they can't have any experience.
Maybe it's true, but in my opinion it depends on the fact that the legs have become the watershedWhen you have a certain level and legs, you can do twice as much as someone who doesn't have those legs. Nine times out of ten, you can. The desire to take risks and surprise the group on days that on paper are not suitable for breakaways has also changed a lot.If it's expected to end in a sprint, no one tries. I'm sorry that's the case; it means there's not much imagination, not all that much freedom.
Do we only do what we can?
I remember sprint stages, with the breakaway almost managing to make it, or even succeeding, and keeping everyone in check. At the 2019 Dauphiné, I was also in the breakaway on stage five. Everyone was waiting for the sprint, but we got to the last kilometer and they still hadn't caught us. We played it to the end, but these things happen less and less. I'll tell you in advance: I wouldn't blame the radio, even if it does have some impact. The truth is that in my opinion the souls of the riders of this era lack a bit of spirit of initiative.If the rider wants, he has the freedom to move as he wishes.
How important is it to be able to read group dynamics?
You need to know How did the previous days go?, for example, if there has already been a breakaway, if someone has tried it and failed to catch it. You have to take that into consideration, you have to be aware of any rumors. At this year's Dauphiné, it was known that the EF Education wanted to escape, but they hadn't succeeded yet. Until at a certain point, I think In the fifth stage, at the start they all lined up in front and in the end they put Baudin in the breakawayThere are some subtle movements in the first few kilometers. You see the team closing in at the start, waiting for a more suitable uphill section for their climber. But these are subtleties that few pay attention to. Many are focused on the effort, on having the right kick in the right place at the right time in their legs.. However, there are also other aspects to evaluate.
For example?
For example where to attack or how to do it based on the windAt the Boucle de la Mayenne, the race I did before the Dauphiné, one day the terrain was all up and down, so you end up going really fast. There were people sprinting at the top of the steep climbs, or rather on the downhills. Following them and catching up was the easiest thing to do. Or maybe there's a headwind and people attack from the front, with others grabbing their wheel, and it's obvious you're not going anywhere. It would be better to come from behind and launch a teammate and then attack first hand.These are things that are rarely seen.
What do you think when you walk past your red number?
It reminds me that there was a time when I too had a full cartridge belt and I wasn't afraid to shoot and try. The moment of youth, but also when you have a lot of confidence and the desire to try.
Time has flown by. Alessandro has just returned from South Tyrol with his family and is leaving for Austria to gain altitude with the team. The last year of his career enters the second part and the plans are still to be made. During last winter, with excellent timing, Rosso di Buja has taken and passed the course to become a sports director and he's looking around to figure out what to do when he grows up. It would be really helpful to have someone in the team capable of teaching certain concepts and movements.
