2013 Giro D'Italia, Stage 4: Policastro Bussentino - Serra San Bruno

[TANK91]

evans is past it.

I agree age cathes up im afraid 34 is the age wheir it usually goes down hill, look at Basso. I think this could be Purito last great year, I think he could come 3rd in the TDF but soon he will be at that weird peaking age.

 

[More Strides than Rides]

All Evans showed was some tenacity at the end of the stage. It is no indicator of fitness.

That competitive edge will get you a higher placing on a stage, but you can't hide behind a fighting attitude when the mountains come

 

[Jancouver]

I doubt Wiggins is going to get dropped tomorrow, he might even try to pull a "Catalunya" to test the field and show off his claimed new climbing abilities...

Wigo is the most boring, uncharismatic‎ rider in the peloton. He will follow wheels and depend on his TT to gain time. If every rider in the peloton was similar to him, I would never watch any cycling. One of the reasons we all (or most of us) love those like Vino or Nib. I truly hope Hesjedal or Nibali can win this race just because they are fun to watch.

 

[sagard]

All Evans showed was some tenacity at the end of the stage. It is no indicator of fitness.

That competitive edge will get you a higher placing on a stage, but you can't hide behind a fighting attitude when the mountains come

Evans is easy to root for. When he won the worlds, something clicked. I swear he now fights for every placing. Gives us some fun on a Monday!

 

[Ferminal]

Big fight to get in the break tomorrow I suspect..

That's what we said on Sunday

 

[Ferminal]

It's not like the competition for 4th and 5th is great.

If the top3 play out as we expected then he's not going to fight for the podium but after that it's well and truly open. Scarponi you would expect to be 4th but lost time already (still probably favourite though), Gesink has been "past it" for 3 years so you can't say with any certainty that he's a contender. Sanchez, whose form is as uncertain as Evans', Santambrogio who will have to climb off the charts to make up time lost against the clock, Pellizotti who if he does anything will probably only be in the 3rd week. So then you're left with guys like Kiserlovski, Kruijswijk and Inxtausti still looking for a proper breakthrough GT in their late 20s. Evans should not race another GT if he isn't competing for a top5 in the final week here.

 

[The GCW]

And Uran

Chance of Uran Uran get a top 5?

 

[peterkrog]

Sorry but the only out come from my point of view, is a break-away will get the line. Who would have a reason to catch them?

 

[greenedge]

Hoping for Scarponi, Evans, Hesjedal and Nibali- who should be fresh after letting Aru/ others work for him, to ride aggressively and put Wiggins under pressure- Sky until the end were not great.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

I thought Evans mopped up 2nd place with a surprising amount of ease. That could be quite a big deal. Without Purito here he could be the natural successor to all those bonus seconds on offer. Including on this stage if BMC fancy it

yep, it was a nice little move. Note BMC managed to place three guys high on the stage.The team look ready to support Evans too. Early days of course.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Sorry but the only out come from my point of view, is a break-away will get the line. Who would have a reason to catch them?

Katusha, anyone who fancy their chances on the climb.

 

[Ferminal]

Farnese if they don't make the break.

 

[SafeBet]

Farnese if they don't make the break.

they'll do whatever they can to be in there.

 

[saneguy]

Stage 3 was beyond expectations...was phenominal. The descent was amazing, of course lots of crashes wasnt so good. Scarponi lost a lot of time. Else would have been more interesting. Lets see he may have to attack more often now on

Also didnt expect Hesjadel to attack so furiously so early. Mouth-watering prospects going ahead I guess. Also the Sky Train pretty much disappeared yesterday last climb onwards. Wiggo will have to fight himself I guess if its going to be like this all the time...

Another unexpected result was Evans. Initially he got dropped from the front group, fought back and then actually took 2nd. Surprise surprise for a lot of us. Not still sure if this is an indication of things to come from him. Still a long way before I put my money on him doing well...

The last climb today will again see a string of attacks. And I think lot of the GC guys are already counting on Wiggo gaining a lot in the TT and hence I think they will attack again on the climb today...

 

[Pippo_San]

Goin' ballistic!

 

[jens_attacks]

“I think it’s quite obvious that Bradley Wiggins is a highly quoted favorite, and the time trial isn’t that far off, so we have to take the chances that we can,” Wegelius said. “Let’s look at last year’s Giro; it was won by 16 seconds, so you don’t win these races with big panache displays, but by sneaking things in here and there. I think that’s the best way to do it. There are 21 stages, and every one of them has to be raced.”



who knew?here i am, cheering for garmin and hesjedal
proper mentality
ryder was so smooth yesterday, he will make them suffer today again

 

[kjetilraknerud]

Garmin have found the key to derailing the Sky train - attacking the climb like madmen. Most Skyborgs aren't made for sudden accelerations like that.

 

[theyoungest]

Garmin have found the key to derailing the Sky train - attacking the climb like madmen. Most Skyborgs aren't made for sudden accelerations like that.

That tactic was already successfully employed by Nibali in Tirreno. Sky weren't really in trouble yesterday.

And to say that Uran and Henao can't handle accelerations...

 

[kjetilraknerud]

That tactic was already successfully employed by Nibali in Tirreno. Sky weren't really in trouble yesterday.

And to say that Uran and Henao can't handle accelerations...

I never said Uran and Henao can't handle accelerations, but they are probably the only ones in Sky's Giro squad.

 

[Ferminal]

Garmin have found the key to derailing the Sky train - attacking the climb like madmen. Most Skyborgs aren't made for sudden accelerations like that.

It was very good wasn't it, and surprised everyone including us. Not sure it will work again, but it's exactly what they need to do on the Pescara stage.

 

[theyoungest]

I never said Uran and Henao can't handle accelerations, but they are probably the only ones in Sky's Giro squad.

I've seen Wiggo in Catalunya and Trentino, handling attacks very well. Yesterday he seemed like he just couldn't be bothered.

Where it could work is on steeper ascents, which seem to be Wiggo's weak point.

 

[kjetilraknerud]

I've seen Wiggo in Catalunya and Trentino, handling attacks very well. Yesterday he seemed like he just couldn't be bothered.

Where it could work is on steeper ascents, which seem to be Wiggo's weak point.

Wiggo is strong, sure, but if he's left with only Henao and Uran at the bottom of, say, the Galibier or the Val Martella while defending the pink jersey - he could very well be in trouble.

That being said, I'm probably talking from the heart and not the head...

 

[saneguy]

Wiggo is strong, sure, but if he's left with only Henao and Uran at the bottom of, say, the Galibier or the Val Martella while defending the pink jersey - he could very well be in trouble.

That being said, I'm probably talking from the heart and not the head...

The possibility of he being left only with Henao and Uran is pretty high. Quite realistic infact.

 

[kjetilraknerud]

The possibility of he being left only with Henao and Uran is pretty high. Quite realistic infact.

Excactly, and that's when we'll see how strong Wiggo really is.

 

[theyoungest]

Excactly, and that's when we'll see how strong Wiggo really is.

That depends on how many riders the other teams have left, of course. If Uran and Henao go full gas on a climb I don't think many riders will be able to attack.