I've never entirely got this 'responsibility'. Valverde is one second behind Yates; he and Quintana (and others) have as much to lose as Yates does. It's been interesting to see Mitchelton calling the others' bluff over what seems more like a convention that a rational way to race.
It's widely accepted that the team that has the leader's jersey in a stage race has a responsibility to control the race. Very, very few teams shirk this responsibility, mainly because it makes them unpopular and you need friends in bike races.
I've never entirely got this 'responsibility'. Valverde is one second behind Yates; he and Quintana (and others) have as much to lose as Yates does. It's been interesting to see Mitchelton calling the others' bluff over what seems more like a convention that a rational way to race.