2014 Tour de France Stage 4: Le Touquet-Paris-Plage / Lille Métropole: 163km, flat

[ILovecycling]

http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?p=1489589#post1489589

Would be useful to make a comparison with the stage from '10. Map and list of sections. Profile

thats perfect!

 

[Netserk]

thats perfect!

In 2010 the stage was longer and the final 28km (very similar) slightly harder, but the part before that are much harder this year.

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

Seriously. Was disappointed only 2 tried today. Even if it's doomed to fail 9/10 it at least gives a bit of interest to a stage.

Inevitable Kittel again tomorrow imo. Maybe something will throw a spanner in the works and liven it up though.

More 99/100 for early GT flat stages...
otherwise yes, tomorrow is/should be Kittel day again.

 

[manafana]

Coquard might go one better but not expecting much bar a slightly bigger break than we saw go yesterday.

 

[maxmartin]

Kittle 1st, Sagan 2nd, business as usual, unless the rain caused some chaos

 

[karlboss]

Don't no anything about the wind...I do hope that there is hard cross winds as that usually takes a boring stage and makes it interesting to watch. Renshaw could even win then. If there are no cross winds then Kittel will take this easily. They are the new HTC from back in 2009.

i suggest you go back and watch 2009. HTC were ridiculous. They controlled the break, or contributed to it, chased them down and controlled the leadout and won the sprint. Noone helped often enough. Giant isn't even close to that level of ridiculous. They may contribute one or two guys earlier in the stage, but hit the final 2km with 7. Kittel may be the new Cavendish but that team was BS.

 

[jaylew]

Sooner or later Lotto has to get their s**t together. Greipel ftw (or second more likely).

 

[Jspear]

i suggest you go back and watch 2009. HTC were ridiculous. They controlled the break, or contributed to it, chased them down and controlled the leadout and won the sprint. Noone helped often enough. Giant isn't even close to that level of ridiculous. They may contribute one or two guys earlier in the stage, but hit the final 2km with 7. Kittel may be the new Cavendish but that team was BS.

You are correct. What I was really referring to was the final. Kittel is the new Cav and their leadout train is the newest hot thing in the final kilometers. In a normal sprint finish no one can beat them....those were the similarities I was referring to.

 

[alspacka]

You are correct. What I was really referring to was the final. Kittel is the new Cav and their leadout train is the newest hot thing in the final kilometers. In a normal sprint finish no one can beat them....those were the similarities I was referring to.

Is it just me that thinks they would surely be even better if they swapped Veelers and Degenkolb? I mean, they're obviously not because I'm sure they've tested it a million times, but it seems odd to me.

 

[Kwibus]

Is it just me that thinks they would surely be even better if they swapped Veelers and Degenkolb? I mean, they're obviously not because I'm sure they've tested it a million times, but it seems odd to me.

See the bolded part. Including the scientific numbers this is their most efficient lead out.

What I like about Giant is that guys who rode for the tiny Skil Shimano are now very important in the leadout of the most dominating sprint train of this time. Instead of buying leadout man like QSOP.

 

[coimbrawu]

For anyone who is interest in Giant-Shimano's sprint train, pls read this article:
http://www.teamgiantshimano.com/2014/06/team-giant-shimano-sprint-formations-explained/

Giant team's sprint formations explain.

 

[karlboss]

You are correct. What I was really referring to was the final. Kittel is the new Cav and their leadout train is the newest hot thing in the final kilometers. In a normal sprint finish no one can beat them....those were the similarities I was referring to.

True, it worked perfectly last night and after Sagan and Renshaw couldn't even step out of the draft to challenge I think they should be looking at a change of tactics. Petacchi has a few tricks up his sleaves for beating dominant trains and sprinters.

 

[movingtarget]

True, it worked perfectly last night and after Sagan and Renshaw couldn't even step out of the draft to challenge I think they should be looking at a change of tactics. Petacchi has a few tricks up his sleaves for beating dominant trains and sprinters.

Very easy win to Kittel. I think Cavendish was the only one who could beat him on flat stages. Sagan made no ground on him at all and Renshaw lost ground. Demare is not up to that standard yet. Greipel has been disappointing. I thought he would offer more and Coquard has been up there on each stage without threatening Kittel.

 

[jaylew]

Very easy win to Kittel. I think Cavendish was the only one who could beat him on flat stages.

Possibly, but he never has. And Greipel on a good day, maybe. Still, I just think this is Kittel's time. He's hands down the fastest sprinter in the world right now and I'm not sure it's even that close.

 

[gunara]

For anyone who is interest in Giant-Shimano's sprint train, pls read this article:
http://www.teamgiantshimano.com/2014/06/team-giant-shimano-sprint-formations-explained/

Giant team's sprint formations explain.

Thanks, it's useful.

 

[Carstenbf]

You are correct. What I was really referring to was the final. Kittel is the new Cav and their leadout train is the newest hot thing in the final kilometers. In a normal sprint finish no one can beat them....those were the similarities I was referring to.

I'm just wondering when the other sprint teams will leave it to G/S to control the finals. Always the same, OPQS and Lotto will ride eyeballs out for the last 10k to keep things under control, and last minute G/S will swoop in and steal the glory.

Nothing wrong with that btw, they do it very well and with impeccable timing. It just struck me how little they partake until 2k to go or so.

 

[mrhender]

I'm just wondering when the other sprint teams will leave it to G/S to control the finals. Always the same, OPQS and Lotto will ride eyeballs out for the last 10k to keep things under control, and last minute G/S will swoop in and steal the glory.

Nothing wrong with that btw, they do it very well and with impeccable timing. It just struck me how little they partake until 2k to go or so.

The other "sprinter" teams should seriously consider putting some strong guys in the break and leave all the work for Giant..

I think we will see an attempt of a larger (10-20 riders) break today, problem is that some of the GC teams with current good car position for tommorrow's stage will help catching the break unless they also have guys in the front..

 

[Carstenbf]

Btw, had hoped for some crosswind today. Back in Northern France, with everyone looking to save for tomorrow. Noone talking about the stage. Perfect setup for a surprise attack.

Cursory investigation of weather forecasts shot that idea down though I'm afraid. 70-80% chance of rain tomorrow though apparently!

 

[virenque216]

stage 5

Hi Guys,

Sorry to be jumping the gun, but the weather forecast for wednesday looks horrrible, a lot of rain and it might be epic on the cobbles.

 

[movingtarget]

Possibly, but he never has. And Greipel on a good day, maybe. Still, I just think this is Kittel's time. He's hands down the fastest sprinter in the world right now and I'm not sure it's even that close.

Yeah I said could not would. Only bad luck beats Kittel in the sprints on flat stages at the moment. I think it was in the TDS where Kittel was in an impossible position close to the line and still won. Just shows how good he is at the moment. God knows how many stages he will win if he makes it to Paris. If he wins enough he should win the Green Jersey as well. Sagan will have to win some stages if Kittel keeps winning the flat stages. Intermediate sprint points won't be enough even if he keeps running places. And I think the Paris stage is double points for the winner.

 

[movingtarget]

Hi Guys,

Sorry to be jumping the gun, but the weather forecast for wednesday looks horrrible, a lot of rain and it might be epic on the cobbles.

Could be carnage. Not what the GC riders want. Cancellara will be smiling.

 

[Jagartrott]

I don't think you can confidently say that Kittel is the fastest sprinter as we haven't seen any real head-to-heads with the other major sprinters. It's logical that he wins a flat sprint against the likes of Sagan, Renshaw and Navardauskas. Have we seen any 'royal' sprints this year already? With a perfect lead-out from Giant, Lotto and Quickstep, we'd really be able to make a judgement.

I think it was in the TDS where Kittel was in an impossible position close to the line and still won. Just shows how good he is at the moment.

Kittel did not participate in the Tour de Suisse.

 

[MartinGT]

Would like to see a bigger break today with hopefully someone from OPQS and Lotto.

Crosswinds too please

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Yeah I said could not would. Only bad luck beats Kittel in the sprints on flat stages at the moment. I think it was in the TDS where Kittel was in an impossible position close to the line and still won. Just shows how good he is at the moment. God knows how many stages he will win if he makes it to Paris. If he wins enough he should win the Green Jersey as well. Sagan will have to win some stages if Kittel keeps winning the flat stages. Intermediate sprint points won't be enough even if he keeps running places. And I think the Paris stage is double points for the winner.

That would be in the Giro, not Suisse. Also, Kittel has almost no chance of winning the green jersey. Sagan winning that one is the most certain thing this Tour.

Other than that I agree that only bad luck beats Kittel at the moment.

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

Would like to see a bigger break today with hopefully someone from OPQS and Lotto.

Crosswinds too please

No crosswinds today, tomorrow is another story though, looks really promising.