Cycling is the obvious example - it's completely reasonable to go into a race as a support rider but end up, say, in a breakaway group that was successful while

Cycling is the obvious example - it's completely reasonable to go into a race as a support rider but end up, say, in a breakaway group that was successful while the team captain stayed with the main peloton. It's not possible to win a whole tour that way, but if you build up a lead over your captain in the first few stages, your director might decide to switch tactics and have the team support you after that.