One wonders about aims and aspirations when considering the New Zealand Road Cycling team..... This applies to the male and female teams.
Team cycling applies to a "team" in cycling two does not necessarily equal team so for the women a disadvantage was immediately detected. The men hung around together but from a team perspective you may as well have gone your own way. Fortune favors the brave!
However, if a team one would expect strategy. That implies cycling to a pattern, with the object of winning or at least being noticed.
I was shocked to see the mens "team" huddled deep within the pelaton all day long.... it wasn't the tour.... It was a one off event that started and ended on the same day, and getting 43rd doesn't matter when you're hunting for GOLD, SILVER or BRONZE!
For those who aren't into cycling a peleton is the largest group of cyclists in a race and when you sit in it you're RESTING. AKA NZ team!
There are all kinds of strategies that involve attacking (sprinting ahead as individuals or breakaway groups) versus staying back in the pelaton, depending on whether your goal is to win the stage, or to win the overall Tour.
So what am I getting at....
Well, one would expect an aspiring team or individual to be tucked in behind the leaders for at least one breakaway effort. At least then we will have sighted you and you will have given yourself half a chance!
I wouldn't be feeling to bad for you either!
We talk about selection policy and see in other codes, people meeting qualification times and missing out because they have no hope of finishing in the top 10.
In this instance the mediocre were there and we wonder if there was a selection criteria for qualifying for the scenic "Tour de Bejing"! Horses are picked for courses.... Julian Dean and co were not the correct horse's for this course!
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