This is how close the last man in line got to the wheel ahead before cracking; the crosswind was such a significant factor.
Many of the pro riders whose exploits we'll all be following for the next six to nine months are preparing to get the 2016 campaign underway at the Tour Down Under in Australia.
But even before that January kick off to the long season for some of the world's biggest teams, smaller squads are racing away in a number of locations around the world.
In Argentina the Vuelta a San Juan is currently being fought out and a fantastic clip emerged yesterday, Tuesday, of the line-out carnage on the opening stage.
As you can see in the clip below, the footage was recorded from the back of a motorbike that was also in the main field as it disintegrated.
Advertisement
The breeze was coming from the riders' left side, so the main field was lined out in the right side gutter.
The strongest riders massed at the front, working up and over and by sharing the labour and rotating each other each and out of the breeze, those further back with no shelter were no match for them.
The bunch disintegrates in this clip in a matter of seconds.
It really underlines how important the breeze can be on the bike and how essential it is to learn to hide from the wind, whether you're racing, training or riding sportives.
Keep an eye on No 22 - featured in the photos above; he's the small punchy rider in blue and white kit with yellow shoes.
Related News
He very nearly makes it onto the back of the line and into the group that distances everyone else.
But the breeze is such a significant factor of the race that he simply can't close that final bike length to make it into the safety of the group and perhaps stay there to the finish.
Line-out carnage
TREMENDA BORDEADA EN LA PRIMERA ETAPA DE LA VUELTA A SAN JUAN
Posted by Solo Ciclismo San Juan on Tuesday, 5 January 2016
The Vuelta a San Juan field in Argentina disintegrates in seconds when the speed goes up and the crosswinds bite on this exposed highway.
Topics
