In bicycle racing, a breakaway specialist is a rider who is specialized in attacking the race from the start in order to show off his sponsor and to try his luck in winning the stage without having to fight with the whole peloton at the finish line.
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Examples of such racers include Jens Voigt, Thomas Voeckler, Tony Martin, Sylvain Chavanel, Sandy Casar, Pierrick Fédrigo, Luis León Sánchez, Jérémy Roy and Jacky Durand.
Cyclists who regularly participate in breaks are typically neither particularly fast climbers nor sprinters, and getting in a break offers their best chance of winning the stage or race.
While many riders will occasionally take part in breaks, the most prominent breakaway specialists are known for the frequency of their attempts, the long distances they cover in small groups or even alone, and for the (relatively rare) wins which can gain them great prestige in the peloton and with fans.