Originally Posted by
surak
In one-day or shorter stage races, sometimes a GC type with top-notch TT abilities will go on a long break and win (e.g., Annemiek van Vleuten, Remco Evenepoel), but inaction and disorganization in the peloton behind plays a huge part in why they can stay away.
Slightly OT, but one of the best one day races I have seen was back in 2011 or so, the year Boonen doubled Flanders-Roubaix. He attacked with 50km to go, and soloed to a win. He was helped by a taillwind, a disorganized chase by only 1-2 riders and the fact that apparently the cobbles are not very conducive to an effective chase - the pack never really caught up to him and he actually gained time in each of the cobble sectors - by the time the cobbles were over, his lead was insurmountable. This was a week after he was in a 3-man break and outsprinted the other 2 to win Flanders, who had been taking turns attacking him in the last few km.