Which combination is the best to save leader's energy as much as is possible in situation where you have one domestique next to your leader:
1) Make leader Rely and set Domestique to protect leader
2) Make leader Follow Domestique and set Domestique to Rely
3) Make leader "Maintain Position" and set Domestique to Rely
Please assume there are no other cyclists in group and you want to go as fast as possible.
Like almost everythng in cycling, there's no simple question and a simple answer. It depends hugely on the context.
One-day race or stage race, distance remaining, whether you're ahead or behind the peloton, how strong the domestique is compared to the leader, their skills and style and the terrain left (climb, flat, downhill) will all make you come to a different conclusion.
Assuming your domestique is only slightly worse than your leader I'd do it in these two ways:
Flat with a good distance remaining - Both Relay
Climbing with distance remaining - Dom dot, Leader maintain position.
Descending after previous climb - Leader dot, Dom maintain
Late in race all scenarios - Leader Dot, Dom Protect
On my own I set 85% effort on maintain position for leader, protected by domestic.
Leader on dot effort on the last climbs still protected by domestic.
Which combination is the best to save leader's energy as much as is possible in situation where you have one domestique next to your leader:
1) Make leader Rely and set Domestique to protect leader
2) Make leader Follow Domestique and set Domestique to Rely
3) Make leader "Maintain Position" and set Domestique to Rely
Please assume there are no other cyclists in group and you want to go as fast as possible.
The best I find in mountain is , on the last climb, making a train with 3 rider (2 domestic climber and the leader)
Like others have said, it all depends. But for me generally I put the leader on dot (solo) in important times, and adjust the effort as needed, and assign another rider to protect him.
I mostly do this in last 20kms or on mountain climbs.
Also my leader is better at mountains than hills so I keep it below 85 on climbs if I can help it, and just power steadily up like a diesel and not have all the following attack and surges and let ups etc.
Previous posts have it right, it depends on many factors but I have a few rules of thumb.
In almost all flat(ish) stage situations it's better to relay that protect. On short sharp climbs I tend to protect and have my leader's effort managed by me, reacting to what rivals do. On most mountains I tend to protect and relay for the first part and only towards the end manage my effort and protect.
