Is professional cycling different than all other sports ?

[cisamcgu]

I was pondering cycle racing earlier...

Is professional cycling the only team sport that has an individual winner ? By this I mean that a team exists, and any member of the team could win a given grand tour, but in actual fact the team is totally dedicated to getting one, predetermined member, across the line first ?

I cannot think of any other sport like this ...

 

[oldroadman]

Yes. It is different. The only analogy that springs to mind is something like formula 1, where a huge team are dedicated to putting a car and driver over the line first. But there the "domestiques" are not actually in the race, other than the high speed pit crew.

 

[slowmotion]

Some big expedition high altitude mountaineering is similar. A broad-based pyramid of climbers and haulers who do "the needful" for a couple of chosen ones to reach the summit. The chosen ones might vary on the course of an ascent, but the principle's the same.

 

[themosquitoking]

Relay running?

 

[cisamcgu]

Relay running has no team winner - either the whole team wins or the whole team loses

But I see what you mean...

 

[swansonj]

Doesn't use of a pacer in (some) running come close?

 

[cisamcgu]

Not really... they are not part of the race..

 

[swansonj]

I'm not an expert, but I thought in at least some races, the pacer(s) entered the race alongside the intended winner, and ran in it, ostensibly like any other competitor, just with a different tactical plan for the race which doesn't involve them wining but does involve helping someone else to win?

 

[cisamcgu]

Yes, but there is no "team" .. everyone is an individual

I can understand what you mean, but I don't think it is the same

 

[ufkacbln]

Wendyball?

The aim is to feed the "striker" who scores the goal

 

[themosquitoking]

Well, if we're making stuff up i'm having a go. Zero gravity badminton.

 

[andyfraser]

I don't know whether it's still allowed but F1 used to have team orders where one driver would help the other driver.

F1 does have the concept of (usually) 2 drivers who are racing individually to win the championship but both are working to for the team to win the constructors title. That's a little similar I suppose.

Edit: This can apply to other motor sports too, in some case more so.

 

[Beebo]

Wendyball?

The aim is to feed the "striker" who scores the goal

Netball would be a better example, as only certain nominated team players can score. Unlike football where everyone can score.

Another example of an individual sport played as a team is Cricket. The batsman is very much on his own, playing as an individual in a team, although they ultimately win or lose as a team.

 

[cisamcgu]

All excellent suggestions (other than Wendyball - not even sure this exists) - but I still think that cycling is different than them all.

 

[dragon72]

Inner-city sumo