2014 Giro d'Italia, Stage 4: Giovinazzo - Bari (112 Km)

[Bye Bye Bicycle]

It's a well known fact that certain users here want every GT to start with a MTF on stage 1 (and every other stage, too). Riders need some rest after a ridicilously long transfer? Doesn't matter, we want action!!!!111

 

[Jagartrott]

It would actually not be such a bad idea to have the first stage end on a medium mountain. Creates some time differences and will result in less frantic and stressed racing (for position) in the flat stages after that. TTT or prologue does more or less the same, but favours always the same usual suspects.

 

[rainman]

If Belfast hosted the "Big Start" which is to be honest a ceremonial start of a three week race (which quite frankly I think i was huge success) then this is surely a mini-restart and therefore also ceremonial. I don't see a huge problem with that although I can understand why people do. But even if we had a hilly stage in Bari how would it be raced? The pure sprinters may go out the back but we'd still end up with sprint trains at the end (sky presumably would try to set up for swift or ebh who are handy enough over hills). But after a long transfer most riders/teams will end up taking it easy no matter what the stage is like.

I'm from and live in belfast btw; i thought it was a huge success

I agree that the crowds and razzamataz were a huge success, I'm not even totally against the ttt as a form of presentation. But imo the two Irish road stages were a huge fail compared to how it could have been. Whoever paid for the Giro to come to Ireland were only looking at the tourism investment aspect, not the picture of what a fantastic sport cycle road racing can be. True we don't need mtf's at this early stage and its great that the sprinters get a chance. But at least throw in a few testing climbs to give breakaways a chance.
There is also the aspect of dragging the race to Ireland and back to the south of Italy, no doubt a big payday for the sponsors but the last thing the riders wanted at the start of a three week GT. Clearly the riders spoke with actions louder than words, they simply refused to make a race of it.

 

[classicomano]

 

[More Strides than Rides]

.

There are limits to human endurance.

I agree, but they arent on that limit on the 4th (flat) stage in 5 days

 

[Christian]

Lol, hilarious picture, thanks for sharing classicomano

 

[mortand]

Someone rejuvenated John Degenkolb and sent him to Dublin to mock Marcel Kittel. Nice!

 

[Libertine Seguros]

It's a well known fact that certain users here want every GT to start with a MTF on stage 1 (and every other stage, too). Riders need some rest after a ridicilously long transfer? Doesn't matter, we want action!!!!111

Not this garbage again. I'd in fact state that modern cycling has TOO MANY MTFs.

What I want is a reason to tune in for more than 30 seconds of a stage. This Giro has not just provided stages that almost guarantee no action so far, but has actively gone out of its way to provide stages that guarantee no action. That is the problem. You don't need to have HC mountains in every stage to make a race interesting... but you need more than just pan-flat dross where the only possibility of any meaningful action is if there's a huge pile-up. And races where we are totally reliant on crashes for action are the worst of all races.

They've had a rest day from the transfer. A rest day! It's not like the Irish stages were especially strenuous either. Hell, in 2010 they transferred from the Netherlands, where they made them tackle a 200km obstacle course on stage 3, and the day after the rest day was a meaningful stage (even if it was a TTT, my most despised format of stage).

The other issue is the backloading. There are basically 6 mountain stages out of 8 in the final week. Every single GC contender will be looking to peak then, so they will race conservatively in the first two weeks to prevent themselves losing big on those stages, and we end up with a chronic fail like the 2012 edition. If these flat stages were spread more evenly through the race, they wouldn't be such a problem, but by bundling them all together at the start you give little reason to tune in, you can see all you need to see by tuning in at the kite and turning off once Kittel accelerates.

 

[classicomano]

Kittel is out with a fever.

Marcel Kittel ‏@marcelkittel 3m

So, the Giro got me earlier then I thought. Absolutely disappointed that I have to leave this beautiful race today because of a fever. :'(((

Marcel Kittel ‏@marcelkittel 59s

Thank you to everyone, incl. my team, the organisers & all the fans next to the road, for your great support! It was short but intensive! <3

 

[miketrout27]

Kittel is out with a fever.



Marcel Kittel ‏@marcelkittel 59s

So if Sky can leadout like last time, Swift has a great chance.

 

[fowlyetti]

Sorry for Kittel, but him being out is good news for the Giro on these flat stages! Should get a few different winners now.

 

[del1962]

Kittel is out with a fever.

All those mountain climbs in Romandie to waste, at least he will be fresher for the tour though

 

[classicomano]

I figure Mezgec will win with 3 bike lengths now.

 

[rainman]

This fever shd pass soon lol. Cav ha really got problems for TDF now.

 

[b.broadhurst]

Swift to win stage 4 is 13/1, thank you very much william hill!!

 

[wirral]

Swift to win stage 4 is 13/1, thank you very much william hill!!

Rule 4 may apply.

 

[Bernie's eyesore]

This fever shd pass soon lol. Cav ha really got problems for TDF now.

How does Kittel being ill now make things tougher for Cav in july?

 

[jens_attacks]

kittel retired one day earlier than i thought. nacer, your time now!

 

[classicomano]

How does Kittel being ill now make things tougher for Cav in july?

Kittel is not gonna kill himself in the mountains now, he will be there with fresh legs and an uber morale.

 

[Christian]

Damn, sucks for Kittel! Well, at least he made the most of it!

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

Go AleJet.

 

[Arnout]

I don't believe the fever story for one second. There is no reason one would stop because of a fever on the day of the easiest stage of the Giro.

 

[Bernie's eyesore]

Kittel is not gonna kill himself in the mountains now, he will be there with fresh legs and an uber morale.

Are you being serious?

 

[SafeBet]

I don't believe the fever story for one second. There is no reason one would stop because of a fever on the day of the easiest stage of the Giro.

Same here.

 

[BigMac]

I don't believe the fever story for one second. There is no reason one would stop because of a fever on the day of the easiest stage of the Giro.

This. We're being made fun of.

We're looking like clowns, again.