Looking for some thoughts, best strategies for managing riders through cobblestone sections. Just like when going up hill, you can often save rider's energy by setting riders to "dot" vs keeping them on "stay with group", is there are some general "good practices" for the cobblestone sections that help to keep rider's heart rates down?
Even with strong cobble riders, when set to "stay with group" once the "group" enters a cobble section, heart rates rise sharply, even on flat terrain. When this happens, I typically put riders on dot and lower there effort to somewhere between 30 and 40. Of course they start to slide backward (except for the very best cobble riders) and then after the cobble section and after they've recovered a bit, I move them back up (to where I want them in the bunch) using relay.
Is that how most people tackle the cobbles? If not, what is your strategy?
That, and I would add the part where you put your protected leader to relay on 20% when on flat. This would make him always be in the front but he will never take part in the actual relaying. So when you hit the cobbles, he starts them in front so you can play with the dot thing more easily.
If offense is the best defence, does it mean that defence is the worst defence?
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