A traditional brand plans for an non-traditional long-range attack
It’s a warm winter afternoon on Spain’s central Mediterranean coast, and I’m seated at a long table in the middle of an outdoor cafe with the newly formed Tudor Pro Cycling Team. We’re 50 kilometers into a 120-kilometer day, and fueling up with plates of flaky pastries and espresso before heading west, into the mountains. Faded posters of Belgian cycling icons, arms outstretched in victory, line the walls.
"May I get a picture? My father used to race with you at Mapei!" A young man in a Soudal Quick Step jersey removes blue mirrored Oakleys to reveal starstruck eyes. Swiss cycling legend Fabian Cancellara smiles and pushes his muscular frame back from a half-eaten bocadillo. With a booming voice, he says, "Of course!" A native of Bern, Switzerland and a once-in-a-generation athlete, Cancellara has won nearly everything there is to win in professional cycling. His accomplishments include stages at the Tour de France. World Championship titles. Epic single-day Classics. Even Olympic gold medals. And many of these victories would come from daring, long-range attacks many kilometers from a solo finish at the line. Such dominant, vulgar displays of power would soon earn the time-trial specialist the nickname "Spartacus."
Professional cycling is a stubbornly traditional sport of teamwork and tactical acumen. The long range attack, for example, is generally considered to be idiocy or suicide, as traditional tactics recommend sticking with a small group and making your big move as close as […]
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