I just watched the end of the second stage of Tirreno-Adriatico, won by Tom Boonen. What struck me was the work done by the Liquigas team. They were the only team to have a real train organized, leading it out from at least 3k out, and yet their guy, Bennati, only managed third. But guess who was attached to Bennati’s wheel the whole time — Boonen. So my question is whether or not pro-teams employ a "sweeper" on their train; that is a guy who sticks to the sprinter’s wheel and prevents another rider from essentially getting a lead out from the team’s effort. It seems a fairly basic tactic, if one only rarely executed well at the amateur level. Perhaps it’s considered amateurish and that’s why we don’t see it more often in the pro-ranks? or is it because the pro-level leadouts are so long and intense that they need every rider doing his turn on the front?
I don’t think this stage was a case of Liquigas getting it wrong leading it from too far out and exhausting the lead out men — they still had two guys with in the last kilometer, but Boonen starts his sprint before Bennati and Bennati never comes close to coming around.
Have a look a the stage here or if that link is no longer live at universalsports.com and let me know what you think.