2012 Tour de France: Stage 4: Abbeville → Rouen (214.5km)

[H2OUUP2]

Didn't Farrar crash twice today? Carried some cuts and bruises as well.

farrar prob felling todays falls in my view,

goss to keep up with cav, greipel isnt that cofident so rain wouldnt help him.

Alright then, I re-nege my first choice. I'll go with my old man The ale-jet! One more time ya old dog!

 

[Old&slow]

Any word on how Kittel is recovering? I noticed he was 2nd to last today.

 

[BillytheKid]

Raaaain at 80%!

South wind 5 to 10.

 

[H2OUUP2]

Raaaain at 80%!

South wind 5 to 10.

wet bunch sprint here we come. Maybe we can be like Nascar fans and just hope for a few massive crashes for our entertainment.

 

[Chap01]

1.Cav
2.Goss
3.Greipel
4.Kittel
5.Petacchi
6.Sagan
7.Farrar
8.Renshaw
9.Hutarovich
10.J.J Haedo

Sounds good!!! What do think about Freire? Not an option anymore?

 

[saosinfangirl]

1st Sagan - late solo break

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

It is ot a random prediction it takes into account the sprinters' and their leadouts' perfomances on stage 2 and the form which has been demonstrated so far and the Olympics amongst other things.

I dunno why you keep bringing up the olympics, its stupid.

Because Cav's mindset will be like "mmmm I wont sprint my bestest at the end today, ya know olympics n all"

Anyway shame it doesn't end on the coast, still one could hope for some action from the wind.
Otherwise some pretty dull stages in the next few days.

 

[hughmoore]

Will the bridge they cross just before the finish straight mess up any trains?



Hugh

 

[cineteq]

1st Sagan - late solo break

So what victory salute will he do? "If the team tells me to win and I win"

 

[greenedge]

I pick Cavendish to win and Goss to finish 2nd.

 

[Random Direction]

Will the bridge they cross just before the finish straight mess up any trains?

Hugh

From looking at Google Earth, the left on to the bridge uses a dedicated curved lane, so likely no issue (high speed sweeping, with one lane). The right 90 degree off the bridge will be tougher - only two lanes usable with road furniture on the outside - could see some quite good curb hopping at 60 km / hr. A strong SE wind would be the wildcard - would be an instant side wide at high speed.

 

[royalpig180]

1st Sagan - late solo break

As hilarious as that would be, too risky for him. He can't jeopardize a decent finish because of its implications for the green jersey race.

 

[ElChingon]

I predict Valverde to split it apart on the short riser and Evald to latch on w/Sagan en tow. Hey, someone has to mention it

 

[RedheadDane]

Today's big question from a Saxo perspective is
Who'll take over breakaway duties from Mørkøv?

 

[Fidolix]

Greipel ftw

 

[Tigerion]

Today's big question from a Saxo perspective is
Who'll take over breakaway duties from Mørkøv?

I'm going with Nuyens

 

[search]

Today's big question from a Saxo perspective is
Who'll take over breakaway duties from Mørkøv?

what?! Isn't he going to attack every day? I was hoping he could win on every single fourth category climb of this tour

 

[greenedge]

I would say Karsten Kroon, Anders Lund or Nicki/ Chris Sorensen.

Nuyens is too good a rider to waste on a stage where the sprinters will pull the break back.

 

[Dr.Sahl]

I would say Karsten Kroon, Anders Lund or Nicki/ Chris Sorensen.

Nuyens is too good a rider to waste on a stage where the sprinters will pull the break back.

It wont be CAS thats for sure..

But I also think it will be either, AL or NS

 

[bjaelkesex]

what?! Isn't he going to attack every day? I was hoping he could win on every single fourth category climb of this tour

He barely made it over the finish line yesterday (thank you Voigt), so I doubt he'll have the legs today. I'm slightly happy about it. Don't get me wrong, seeing him in the polka-dot jersey is great, but the circlejerk from the Danish media is getting out of hand. There was a poll this morning asking if he could take the jersey all the way to Paris!

 

[glassmoon]

1st Sagan - late solo break

would be epic!

 

[Cimber]

I'm going with Nuyens

Nah he will kick back and wait for when a break stands a chance.

I would say Karsten Kroon, Anders Lund or Nicki/ Chris Sorensen.

Nuyens is too good a rider to waste on a stage where the sprinters will pull the break back.

Nicki is liek Nuyens. He will wait till later on. Chris's aim is the polka dot so he will wait too (also he is not a flat-land rider). I reckon he might give stage 8 a go for the polka points.

Lund and Kroon might be possible, but I think Riis wants the team to sick back today and tomorrow and just ride for JJ in the sprint.

For the win I got a feeling it will be Greipel.

 

[happytramp]

He barely made it over the finish line yesterday (thank you Voigt), so I doubt he'll have the legs today.

It would be great if he tried but couldn't keep up. People would love him even more for trying and failing.

 

[search]

He barely made it over the finish line yesterday (thank you Voigt), so I doubt he'll have the legs today. I'm slightly happy about it. Don't get me wrong, seeing him in the polka-dot jersey is great, but the circlejerk from the Danish media is getting out of hand. There was a poll this morning asking if he could take the jersey all the way to Paris!

yeah, I was just joking of course, he is doing a great job so far, he will keep the jersey till the weekend and that's it

 

[sulgpallur]

The only sure thing is that Morkov will be in the break.

Nah, he will wait now for sunday