2013 Tour de France, Stage 4: Nice / Nice 25km (TTT)

[Christian]

So David Millar in yellow tomorrow, and for the next two stages... can't get too excited about that. No disrespect to him but I'd rather see another young gun than him

 

[cineteq]

Movistar
BMC
Garmin
Orica
OPQS
Sky

 

[Pantani_lives]

1 Sky
2 Garmin
3 BMC

Boasson Hagen in yellow.

Quickstep doesn't stand a chance because of Martin's concussion.

 

[thedodododo]

What do you guys think about Euskatel vs Ag2r tomorrow?

 

[theyoungest]

Eh, I think BMC could surprise some people and do pretty well. 7 of the same riders as they had in 2011 when they came in second in a TTT of very similar length, but with van Garderen and Gilbert (both of whom were on the Worlds team last year which came in second) instead of Hincapie and Santaromita. I call that an upgrade.

But they had a superb Evans as the engine of that team. Does he have that kind of form now? I doubt it.


Belkin are here with a similar team to the one that won the Tirreno TTT a few years ago. Do I expect them to win now? I don't.

 

[Afrank]

What do you guys think about Euskatel vs Ag2r tomorrow?

Ag2r will finish better of the two I think.

 

[Wigwan]

What do you guys think about Euskatel vs Ag2r tomorrow?

They might get surprised by Saujasun.

 

[Pantani_lives]

What do you guys think about Euskatel vs Ag2r tomorrow?

AG2R has the edge, but don't underestimate Sojasun!

 

[liamito]

Any ideas about the winning time? Something like 27 minutes I guess?

 

[Poursuivant]

Always risky I think to shed four riders, only takes a small mechanical for one of the leading five to mess everything up

 

[Warhawk]

But they had a superb Evans as the engine of that team. Does he have that kind of form now? I doubt it.


Belkin are here with a similar team to the one that won the Tirreno TTT a few years ago. Do I expect them to win now? I don't.

Well in regards to the 2011 Tirreno I'm not sure the level of competition is quite comparable top-to-bottom as the 2011 TdF. Evans may not be as good as he was then, but I did point out that TJVG and Gilbert is an upgrade to what they had then. Point is they have some riders, and really this group in general, that has gotten good results in TTTs in the past.

 

[Wilba60]

OGE introduced Svein Tuft to the TdF roster so that it could have a red hot go at the TTT. He has been in both winning TTT teams for Orica at Eneco and Tirreno in 2012. There are 4 members of that Tirreno winning team here in Tuft, O'Grady, Goss and Meyer plus they some excellent additions in Lancaster, Impey, Gerrans, Clarke and Albasini.

With the momentum of winning their first ever TdF stage I think they will give the TTT a real shake.

 

[manafana]

OPQS for me have 3 good guys who can take hard turns in first half then 6 good lads to take it home. Martin looked fine today.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I wonder what Lotto will do. No class act TT'ers maybe, but they know how to pound as a team (chasing/leading out Greipel). I can assume they'd likely not lose too much time for JVDB as well.

 

[Orbit501]

Quickstep doesn't stand a chance because of Martin's concussion.

I'll repeat what I said early...Tony Martin finished in the front group today so he can't be feeling that bad.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

I wonder what Lotto will do. No class act TT'ers maybe, but they know how to pound as a team (chasing/leading out Greipel). I can assume they'd likely not lose too much time for JVDB as well.

They got a couple of big units which will work really well on this course. But I think they lack 1 or 2 top end players who will be needed to get onto the podium.

5-10 likely.

 

[King Boonen]

Valverde can get bent as far as I'm concerned. BMC as my outside bet.

 

[Leadbelly]

I'll repeat what I said early...Tony Martin finished in the front group today so he can't be feeling that bad.

I think if he does have trouble tomorrow it will be more down to the TT position and the different type of bike. As you point out there doesn't seem to be much wrong with his legs, but only time will tell if his upper body injuries will hamper him tomorrow.

 

[Pippo_San]

Where's the poll????

Anyway, I'm still going with OPQS, even with a bruised Martin. They're very, very strong. And they have a super Kwiato these days, impressive guy.

Then Sky, even tho I'm unsure about The Tank Engine and Stannard, they still have that frakkin' soviet ******* who's going to trash everyone and everything, and who looks incredible.

Then Movistar. I guess this'll be a close one.

Saxo will lose big time you see.

 

[Carols]

Movistar!

10 char

 

[Big Doopie]

Movistar!

10 char

Really? All these people voting for Movistar...

if movistar win tomorrow, it should hardly be a reason to rejoice; it should raise a lot of eyebrows... ;(

 

[the sceptic]

Really? All these people voting for Movistar...

if movistar win tomorrow, it should hardly be a reason to rejoice; it should raise a lot of eyebrows... ;(

Yes, better that someone from the new generation like Millar gets yellow

 

[Carols]

Really? All these people voting for Movistar...

if movistar win tomorrow, it should hardly be a reason to rejoice; it should raise a lot of eyebrows... ;(

Movistar have been doing very well in TTT for a while now, plus only Costa is injured on their roster. They have a shot!

 

[Pulpstar]

i think the appropriate question will be does 50% Gerrant can beat 50% Alberto? *hint: both team has a crashed rider, and both riders are pretty crucial component of their TT makeup* - which theoretically means which "team members that's left (as a whole)" of which squad will reign supreme

Gerrant is banged up way worse than Bertie, a fractured pelvis can't be nice. The difference is though Sky can afford to drop G Thomas, Saxo can't drop Bertie.

 

[BigMac]

Movistar have been doing very well in TTT for a while now, plus only Costa is injured on their roster. They have a shot!

Costa is fully recovered, that was just a small insignificant cut on his wrist.