By John Considine
From the start of yesterday's opening stage of the Giro 2022, two riders from an invited (Tier-2) team went on the attack. They established an early break. The break by the (Drone Hopper - Androni Giocattoli) teammates will have justified the invitation extended by the organisers. The team sponsors will have been happy with the television coverage devoted to the breakaway. The two riders will have picked up some intermediate prizes. Expect some of the other invited teams to be in the early breaks in the coming week.
The peloton allowed the pair away and then closed ranks. The break was allowed to open a 10 minute gap. However, that was never going to be enough. Like a cat playing with a mouse before delivering the final execution, the gap was narrowed but the two were allowed to stay slightly ahead until the real racing started near the end of the stage.
The relatively small kick-up at the end of the flat stage sorted the riders. The distribution of time gaps to the winner are produced below. Seven riders were given the same time as the winner. These seven are listed in the table below, along with their pre-stage betting odds (from Paddy Power).
The peloton allowed the pair away and then closed ranks. The break was allowed to open a 10 minute gap. However, that was never going to be enough. Like a cat playing with a mouse before delivering the final execution, the gap was narrowed but the two were allowed to stay slightly ahead until the real racing started near the end of the stage.
The relatively small kick-up at the end of the flat stage sorted the riders. The distribution of time gaps to the winner are produced below. Seven riders were given the same time as the winner. These seven are listed in the table below, along with their pre-stage betting odds (from Paddy Power).
A crash in the final sprint cost Caleb Ewan (3rd favourite in pre-race betting) one of the top places.
It can be expected that today's individual time trial will produce a more "normal" distribution of time gaps. Riders will not be allowed draft in each other's slipstream (a process that can result in riders finishing in groups). Today's time trial is about individual optimisation. The type of stuff you find in the early chapters of an introductory economic textbook.
It can be expected that today's individual time trial will produce a more "normal" distribution of time gaps. Riders will not be allowed draft in each other's slipstream (a process that can result in riders finishing in groups). Today's time trial is about individual optimisation. The type of stuff you find in the early chapters of an introductory economic textbook.
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