One-week races

Lichtblick

Despite my keen interest in pro bike racing, I have never followed a one-week race before. (It doesn't matter why.)

Can someone please explain to me how the tactics differ from a 3-week GT, i.e., when do the main contenders (Contador, Froome et al) "go for it" (for want of a better expression) with only a few days to "play with" (for want of a better expression). Tomorrow is too early? Thursday is too late? Everyone hell-for-leather on last day? :?:

Help me Obi Wan, you're my only hope.

Pross

They don't differ that much but if there is a longish TT then it tends to have an even bigger bearing on the result.

Yellow Peril

I'm quite a fan of one week tours but as Pross says a big TT can skew it. Perhaps the best combo is a couple of sprint stages with time bonus's, MTF's likewise and a TT and a prologue to give specialists in each discipline a bit of a look in.

Lichtblick

Pross wrote:

They don't differ that much but if there is a longish TT then it tends to have an even bigger bearing on the result.

There's a TT on Wednesday but it looks short and flat...........

Lichtblick

So when do they get started on the actual going for the GC, with so few days in which to do it?

Yellow Peril

Lichtblick wrote:

So when do they get started on the actual going for the GC, with so few days in which to do it?

That depends on the strength of the team leader. Minnows will be allowed their head in the first couple of days with the likes of Froome just staying in touch ( I think he is about a minute down in the Dauphine) and he'll wait to make an impact in a TT or high mountains.

Defending a leader's jersey for a whole week in a week long tour can be very arduous, more so than the last week of GT when everyone is on their knees and just wants it to end.