2012 Tour Down Under Stage 4: Norwood → Tanunda, 130km, 2.WT

[auscyclefan94]

2012 Tour Down Under Stage 4: Norwood → Tanunda, 130km, 2.WT

Start Time: 11am (The Parade, Norwood)

ŠKODA King of the Mountain: Norsworthy Road – Smith Hill, near Kersbrook and Menglers Hill Road, Menglers Hill

Jayco Sprint Locations: Little Para Road, Kersbrook and Melrose Street, Mt Pleasant

Feed Station: Main Street, Springton

Finish Time: 2.31pm ETA

Weather: High of 31oC, Sunny. Weather man on ABC broadcast said there would be more SSE.

Stage preview

 

[craig1985]

Anybody other than Greipel.

 

[Ferminal]

So frustrating. Finish in Angaston and Stelvio may have had an impact, as it is I'd say 20km out is too far.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

One of the best value wines. You can probably find it for $10!

 

[will10]

So frustrating. Finish in Angaston and Stelvio may have had an impact, as it is I'd say 20km out is too far.

Typical TdF stage with Tourmalet in the first few km of the day but a flat finish.

 

[taiwan]

Is that about 3km at 6%, 20km out? Maybe this is the opportunity for EBH.

EBH
Matthews
Haussler

 

[theyoungest]

If they went the other way on this stage I'd say Adam would win, with Eve on his wheel.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Similar profile, similar result.

 

[Jamsque]

Can't see past Greipel. Because his *** is SO BIG. But also he will win.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Is that about 3km at 6%, 20km out? Maybe this is the opportunity for EBH.

EBH
Matthews
Haussler

Yes, but Menglers has some really steep pitches. A possible lauch pad?

Meyer said that this stage could be descisive for gc especially if a team goes really hard over Menglers.

 

[El Pistolero]

Greipel for a third!

 

[auscyclefan94]

A shame Tim Roe is not racing considering the start is in his home town, Norwood.

 

[Mellow Velo]

I don't see a break staying away like last year.
Too many teams should be prepared to bring it back together for a buncho sprinto.
The product of having Greipel in such fine, January form, I'm afraid.

 

[will10]

If other teams put pressure on Lotto to chase with their depleted team then it could be fun. But unfortunately too many guys will want to keep it together ahead of tomorrow. Greipel wins.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Anyone think there is a chance for a team to split things up on menglers? Does have some really steep parts.

 

[theyoungest]

Yes, but Menglers has some really steep pitches. A possible lauch pad?

Meyer said that this stage could be descisive for gc especially if a team goes really hard over Menglers.

Too far out. 20 k from the finish, small gaps: everything gets back together.

 

[will10]

Anyone think there is a chance for a team to split things up on menglers? Does have some really steep parts.

I doubt it very much. 1.25km at 8%, what's that a 5 minute climb?

 

[maltiv]

Anyone think there is a chance for a team to split things up on menglers? Does have some really steep parts.

Might drop a couple of riders but nothing more than that, I think. Even if a big group gets dropped they'll get back before the finish.

 

[classicomano]

My god is there no way to make this course more interesting?

 

[Zam_Olyas]

My god is there no way to make this course more interesting?

ACF is trying to get us enthused

 

[just some guy]

My god is there no way to make this course more interesting?

Yes but there is probably the same amount of positives for the riders and negatives for us.

 

[rgmerk]

My god is there no way to make this course more interesting?

Yes, there are plenty of things they could do to make the course more interesting. The most interesting would of course be to shift the race to Victoria or Tasmania , but even allowing that the race will stay in the Adelaide suburbs for the time being, there's plenty of changes that could be made to make the course more selective. But the teams simply don't want it at this time of year.

 

[Kvinto]

They should simply make another race in Australia (cat. 1 or HC) with a better parcours in February. It's a race-time that is better to spend in south hampshire instead of getting frozen in Europe. TDU, San Luis, Qatar and Oman is not enough.

 

[Ferminal]

Lotto are too strong. A couple of teams, say GreenEdge and Sky would have to smash the climb and then go flat out for 20km. That will not happen, instead you will get a few speculators going off who will be caught with 5-10km remaining.

 

[will10]

Best hope is that a decent break will not have been caught by the climb, a small group will go off the front and we'll get a reasonably sized reinforced group heading for the finish. But I doubt it, everyone will wait for st.5