Wise words...?

There's something in this, from Jeremy Wilson in the Telegraph, but I still think they should have had a plan B of some description (namely someone in the break):

"...As is very often the case in road race cycling (and as has been the case in many of the Tour de France stages that Cavendish did not win in recent years), he was simply the victim of circumstance. Indeed, the perverse truth was that, in coming so close to controlling a 160 mile race on their own, Cavendish’s four team-mates – Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome, David Millar and Ian Stannard – actually delivered one of the greatest performances of their lives.

In time, and once the disappointment has settled, it may also be remembered as one of the most stirring moments of these entire Olympics. Few in cycling can ever remember such a small team being able to ride on the front to such effect.

For almost six hours, on what was a very challenging course, just four men were being forced to match an entire peloton of riders who, collectively, were clearly terrified of the race ending in a sprint finish for Cavendish.

In its own way, the performance by Wiggins and Froome was as heroic and ambitious as their exploits in the Tour de France. It was also a reminder that success in sport cannot always be measured or rewarded by medals."