This is how you form an echelon

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This is how you form an echelon

Few points obtain us road biking fans more fired up than the view of several echelons fanned out across a stretch of tarmac. On Sunday's stage 1 of the UAE Trip we were treated to a book instance of such crosswind-inspired carnage.

As Raúl Banqueri highlights in his tweet above, it was at the initial intermediate sprint, 112 kilometres from the surface, that the action truly began. Deceuninck-QuickStep enhanced the pace, establishing Joao Almeida up for some incentive secs, and because flurry of activity, the peloton started to splinter.

Understanding what had actually happened, and that the scenario was working in their favour (a number of GC competitors had been distanced), Deceuninck-QuickStep maintained the stress on. The lead team that emerged from that split went on to object to the stage win, with Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix) taking the sprint and also the general lead (prior to having to leave the race).

With any luck we see some even more crosswind action in the days in advance.

You understand points are windy when the support autos develop a tier as well.
The article This is how you form an echelon appeared initially on CyclingTips.

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