Is it normal that someone has no idea what cycling races are all about?

According to the coach, it is completely normal. I mean, it is not normal, but it is understandable that someone does not understand it. They have no right to understand. Multi-stage races, because that is what we are mainly talking about, are some kind of cosmos for the average person.
Generally, it is about completing all the stages in the shortest possible time and that is supposedly the winner. Supposedly, because there are also other classifications in the same race. Sprinters, sometimes climbers, escapees are not interested in the general classification. In the end, probably ten cyclists fight for victory, the rest fight in their own classifications. Often very prestigious and very valuable, like the aforementioned “sprinter”.
(or helps his strongest teammates)
Example:
Watching the race, we see the breakaway of the day. There is our compatriot, fighting for victory, but he reaches the finish line half an hour behind the main peloton.
He is decorated as the most brave, there are also others decorated. There is a leader who has not been seen at the head of the peloton for a week.
The next day the same, the next the same. Cyclists who win stages in this most important general classification take far-off places.
To sum up: it is impossible to understand for someone who is not involved in cycling.
Generally, it is about sponsors, contracts, commitments to the team, these are also some kind of logical tricks, a bit of an understanding between cyclists, fatigue, extremely long stages and races and many, many more factors.