2012 Tirreno -Adriatico, Stage 4:Amelia - Chieti: 252km

[TeoSheva]

Who takes the lead after today? Any of the GreenEdge guys able to hold on?

Horner.......

 

[Trofinios]

There are hills so I'll go with "no".

Langevald could. He was 18th on the Chieti stage last year, just 31 seconds behind Scarponi. But of course, he was in super shape last year.

 

[Susan Westemeyer]

We could actually se Sky's Lovkvist in the lead after today. He is only 25 seconds back, and is usually quiet strong in these type of finishes. 9th last year on the Chieti stage, 16 seconds behind Scarponi.

Lövkvist didn't start today.

Susan

 

[Gloin22]

Lövkvist didn't start today.

Susan

Caught a fever. Shame as he was looking in strong position indeed here.

 

[Kwibus]

Langevald could. He was 18th on the Chieti stage last year, just 31 seconds behind Scarponi. But of course, he was in super shape last year.

Well he was among the 5 last in the TTT like he was last year with Rabo when they won the TTT.
I guess he's pretty strong. He had some problems in Oman and Qatar because of crashes, but I guess he's coming into form.

 

[Trofinios]

Lövkvist didn't start today.

Susan

Too bad, I hope it is nothing serious. I read on Team Sky's homepage that he is in the MSR squad. Maybe they substitue him now when his build up for MSR is a bit ruined.

Off topic, Team Sky's squad for MSR is Cavendish, Hagen, Eisel, Lövkvist, Hayman, Hunt, Knees and Stannard. Lövkvist will be important far Cav (and Hagen) on Cipressa and Poggio. If Lövkvist won't be able to build up properly for the race, Sky can't take any chances and must bring in a decent climber from the Paris Nice squad. Maybe Wiggo?

 

[theyoungest]

Well he was among the 5 last in the TTT like he was last year with Rabo when they won the TTT.
I guess he's pretty strong. He had some problems in Oman and Qatar because of crashes, but I guess he's coming into form.

Yeah, of course he was among the 5 guys who set the time for Greenedge, otherwise he wouldn't be so high on GC

Langeveld is a pretty good time trialist, doesn't have to mean that he's in great climbing form (although he should be, with his races coming up)

 

[Kwibus]

Yeah, of course he was among the 5 guys who set the time for Greenedge, otherwise he wouldn't be so high on GC

Langeveld is a pretty good time trialist, doesn't have to mean that he's in great climbing form (although he should be, with his races coming up)

Well I don't expect him here today. I hope he will be ready for the cobbled races though.

 

[Euskaltel!]

I'm gonna go for Poels to keep the Vancansoleil bandwagon going

 

[theyoungest]

More likely than Westra winning on Mende

If EBH shed 4 kilos, sure. I think even The Great Lieuwe Westra would get into trouble on this climb though.

 

[search]

Well he was among the 5 last in the TTT like he was last year with Rabo when they won the TTT.
I guess he's pretty strong. He had some problems in Oman and Qatar because of crashes, but I guess he's coming into form.

it's Cam Meyer who's their guy for gc.
Not that I'd expect anything from him, just what Matt White said...

 

[theyoungest]

Ah yes, the great "climber" who has never shown any talent for climbing.

 

[Mellow Velo]

If EBH shed 4 kilos, sure. I think even The Great Lieuwe Westra would get into trouble on this climb though.

You think?
How do you see the difference between to 2 climbs?

 

[Red Rick]

Nibbles ftw, mark my words. Mark them as wise or as moronic

 

[Kvinto]

Maybe not the biggest favourite for such a finish, but i would like to mention Kreuziger who was one of the most impressive riders in Strade Bianche (he was caught at the back after GVA and then Cancellara attacked but unlike the others (especially Nibali) managed to close the gap to Ballan, GVA, Iglinskiy and Gatto himself).

 

[Trofinios]

EBH hasn't been spectacular on really long stages, but he is getting better on them. Last 50k of todays stage is pretty tough and it will take it's toll on EBH before the final steep climb. This climb in itself is a bit too steep for EBH. If it was 8-9% for 1-2k then EBH might be able to do a good result, but it isn't.

 

[theyoungest]

You think?
How do you see the difference between to 2 climbs?

This is more of a steep wall, typical Tirreno stuff. Mende is doable, in comparison. I don't think you'll see Wiggins making the pace on a climb like this.

 

[maltiv]

If EBH shed 4 kilos, sure. I think even The Great Lieuwe Westra would get into trouble on this climb though.

He has lost some weight actually. Not quite 4 kg's, though.

A real shame Löfkvist didn't start today. That guy is simply followed by bad luck. He was in a really good position to finally get another top 5 GC in a WT race.

 

[Trofinios]

This is more of a steep wall, typical Tirreno stuff. Mende is doable, in comparison. I don't think you'll see Wiggins making the pace on a climb like this.

These climbs aren't comparable at all imo. The last climb today is 1k at 12.5%, Mende is 3k at 10%. Different strategies attacking these two climbs.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Duarte, Poels or Vanendert FTW

this except switch vanendert with garzelli

 

[will10]

When is a climb, not a climb?
When it's in Paris-Nice apparently.
Hills? Today's finish is sub Mende, which you found so pathetic.
But, of course, this is Italy and comes after 250 kms of rollin', rollin', rollin'.

I never said Mende was a pathetic finish did I. I said it showed how poor the overall Paris Nice route was this year when Mende is the queen stage. Normally we have something along the lines of these to look forward to.

No chance this year. Just a prologue, 2 uphill sprints, a decent finish into Mende and then two transitional stages before an uphill TT.

 

[Trofinios]

I had hopes that Kessiakoff could do well on a stage with this kind of finish, but I read a chat with him where stated that he has problems performing well on stages over 200k.

Another Astana rider and a real GC threat imo, is Kreuziger, who seems to be in great shape. Never thought he would do so well in Strade Bianche. I expect him to be up there today. Btw, he is just 33 seconds behind Goss, and on of the best placed GC contenders as of today.

 

[Kwibus]

it's Cam Meyer who's their guy for gc.
Not that I'd expect anything from him, just what Matt White said...

Ah yes that overrated rider again. Like theyoungest allready said he has never shown any climbing promiss.

Greenedge doesn't have a GC rider.

p.s. When will Weening ride his first race? April is closing in and he wants to perform in the Ardennes... well he should start racing by now.
Not that I expect him to have any impact on the Ardennes.

 

[Marco Pantani]

I feel Rodriguez takes the win today. With so many top riders we should see 5 minutes of fireworks in the last 2 ks for sure.

 

[Lupetto]

http://www.pratiditivo.it/

Very cold, but roads seem to be open. Let's hope it will work.