Amgen Tour of California 2019 Official Program

AMGEN TOUR OF CALIFORNIA | OFFICIAL 2019 PROGRAM | 29 2019 T he structure behind a bike race is more complicated than one may think. Tactics, terrain and setting are just a few of the elements in a formula to a winning combination. BREAKAWAY The gun blasts. The flag drops. The race is officially underway after the obligatory pa- rade out of the Host City. What happens next? The explosion of riders is eager to make a name for themselves. One after the next, accelerations from individual riders pop out of the bunch, hoping to encourage others with similar interests to join them in the long journey ahead. Precisely who forms a breakaway is a com- plicated matter. Depending on the stage profile, the riders who sacrifice by forging ahead have a variety of goals. The veteran opportunist – This rider is the one in the breakaway capable of taking it to the finish. Picture the likes of Jens Voigt or Thomas De Gendt who look for those elu- sive wins when the peloton sleeps. They’re the driving force in the breakaway, unwilling to give up when the odds seem impossible, and frequent recipients of the most coura- geous jersey. The newcomer – The breakaway is always a symbol of hope, regardless of terrain, ex- pectations or predictions. Herein lies the newcomer’s, or neo-pro’s, chance to prove themselves. It could be a small team look- ing for some airtime or a domestique get- ting his or her chance to move out from un- der the shadow of the team’s golden child. The riders who want to be in the breakaway believe in their chances to shine. The team player – The breakaway rider who makes the rest of the peloton nervous. This is the teammate who sits themselves ANATOMY OF A RACE PHOTO: EZRA SHAW/GETTY IMAGES