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

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

I haven't seen the stage but... how on earth did De Gendt manage to lose time today?

http://www.nieuwsblad.be/article/detail.aspx?articleid=0N3L52V1

His form isn't great.

 

[Kwibus]

TDU is becoming a decent race. It still comes down to a lot of sprinting, but the racing becomes hard and most of the bunch seem to ride for the win.
Not bad at all.

Looks like a nice race today with the Stelvio actually having an impact

Great to see Freire win. He really is a special guy. Incredibly unpredictable.

 

[stefank]

TDU is becoming a decent race. It still comes down to a lot of sprinting, but the racing becomes hard and most of the bunch seem to ride for the win.
Not bad at all.

Looks like a nice race today with the Stelvio actually having an impact

Great to see Freire win. He really is a special guy. Incredibly unpredictable.

Maybe it's one positive from the UCI's points system. Teams have realized that points earned at the TDU are worth the same as points earned Europe, so it's worth chasing them.

 

[theyoungest]

Maybe it's one positive from the UCI's points system. Teams have realized that points earned at the TDU are worth the same as points earned Europe, so it's worth chasing them.

It will probably be a first in TDU history to have only 3 Aussies currently in the top 10 on GC.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Seems like a decent stage today, even allowing for some of the posting hysteria confusion.
With so few hills, it does mean guaranteed attacking or pressure on every rise.
Greipel gone and a clutch of riders in with a shout for tomorrow's showdown.

 

[simo1733]

Oscar is pure class.Greenedge face palm again.

 

[Kwibus]

Rabo has done their job. Everyone thinks they are playing Matthews, but Kelderman is still only at 12seconds.

It's going to be easy for him to win the TDU now.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Valverde still in striking distance at 12s.
No sign of his presence on camera - I just saw the highlights.

 

[theyoungest]

Oscar is pure class.Greenedge face palm again.

Yeah, it's a bit strange they're betting everything on Willunga, as a sprinters team. About 100 guys can win that stage, it can evolve every which way, what are they planning to do? Control it to death, and then let Valverde ride away with it?

 

[maltiv]

Edvald says that "the entire team sacrificed itself so that Rogers would get a good position into the climb, so I had to do everything myself".

I certainly hope there's a reason Sky seems to think that Rogers has turned into Gilbert, else I will be quite annoyed

 

[Kwibus]

Edvald says that "the entire team sacrificed itself so that Rogers would get a good position into the climb, so I had to do everything myself".

I certainly hope there's a reason Sky seems to think that Rogers has turned into Gilbert, else I will be quite annoyed

It's hilarious really. I bet EBH can ride up Willunga a lot faster than Rogers.

 

[Jamsque]

Wow, it sounds like a bike race broke out at the Tour Down Under! I bet it would have been exciting to watch. You know, watching. That thing you do with your eyes, and bike races. Maybe one day the Australians will discover this 'watching'.

Also nice to see that OSOF (Old Slow Oscar Freire) beat a gaggle of hot young sprinters to take the win. I guess Cav was wrong, Greipel isn't so thin after all.

 

[theyoungest]

Edvald says that "the entire team sacrificed itself so that Rogers would get a good position into the climb, so I had to do everything myself".

I certainly hope there's a reason Sky seems to think that Rogers has turned into Gilbert, else I will be quite annoyed

If my eyes don't deceive me, I see Edvald getting a leadout from a teammate until a few hundred meters to go. He simply wasn't fast enough.

 

[dlwssonic]

Great riding by Kohler in the tdu. Really paid off to put him in my cq team. He's climbing is pretty bad. I think GVA or Ballan has a better chance for the overall.

 

[maltiv]

If my eyes don't deceive me, I see Edvald getting a leadout from a teammate until a few hundred meters to go. He simply wasn't fast enough.

He's probably talking about coming into the hill, not in the sprint. I'm not saying he could've won with more support, it just shows that Sky still has all its faith in Rogers.

 

[theyoungest]

He's probably talking about coming into the hill, not in the sprint. I'm not saying he could've won with more support, it just shows that Sky still has all its faith in Rogers.

I guess the Aussie TT champs showed he has pretty good form... I agree that they do seem overly confident in the guy's chances, but Rogers simply is a better climber than EBH. The question is whether this will really be a climbers race.

 

[Jamsque]

Rogers is a better climber than EBH? Maybe five years ago.

 

[theyoungest]

Rogers is a better climber than EBH? Maybe five years ago.

Lol. Check out his 2010 season:

Ruta del Sol: 1st.
Strade Bianche: 3d.
Tirreno-Adriatico: 6th.
Criterium International: 2nd.
Tour de Romandie: 3d.
Tour of California: 1st.

 

[Kvinto]

Rogers is a better climber than EBH? Maybe five years ago.

are you kidding? Rogers is a better climber now

I guess the Aussie TT champs showed he has pretty good form... I agree that they do seem overly confident in the guy's chances, but Rogers simply is a better climber than EBH. The question is whether this will really be a climbers race.

Well, if it won't be a climbers race they can change their tactics after the first Willunga ascent. I have not seen today's overview yet, the results tell that a bit easier climb 20km to go made selection of the bunch to 50 riders and if the first Willunga ascent will do the same it looks reasonable to me that they bet for Rogers but if EBH looks strong on this first ascent they can work for him as the one who can win if only he survives steepness at the bottom of the hill.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Rogers is a better climber than EBH? Maybe five years ago.

Still is on the long climbs. EBH is still a better option on a shorter climb and with the final stage is another reason why Sky should ride for EBH.

Great riding by Kohler in the tdu. Really paid off to put him in my cq team. He's climbing is pretty bad. I think GVA or Ballan has a better chance for the overall.

When was he really bad climber? Won a time trial on a really hilly course last year and 3rd at road race on a hilly course. His performances in other one day races and stage races say he isn't that bad.

 

[theyoungest]

When was he really bad climber? Won a time trial on a really hilly course last year and 3rd at road race on a hilly course. His performances in other one day races and stage races say he isn't that bad.

And he was a very strong 77th on the Willunga stage last year.

 

[auscyclefan94]

well he didn't really have to try last year.

 

[austy37]

I was riding up a hill in Canberra a few weeks a go and Rogers flew past me at about 35km/hr. I tried to call out'hey mick' but sound doesn't travel that fast I guess......admittedly I am a e grade racer (my club only goes to e)

 

[auscyclefan94]

Read this....Unbelievable!

 

[Kvinto]

lol, spectators watch you everywhere