2014 Vuelta al País Vasco, Stage 4: Vitoria-Gasteiz → Arrate (Eibar), 151 km

[Geraint Too Fast]

2014 Vuelta al País Vasco, Stage 4: Vitoria-Gasteiz → Arrate (Eibar), 151 km

Maybe Contador will let Valverde win this one? Nah . Kwiatkowski will finish 3rd obviously.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

eh, Ally Vally beat Contador last time they were both here. I wish they'd go back to going directly from Karabieta to Usartza.

 

[Afrank]

Andy has given me new found hope with his (brief) break today. Schleck from the break FTW.

 

[classicomano]

Tomorrow hope rides again.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Alberto for his 6th win this year.

 

[BigMac]

Alberto for his 6th win this year.

He will take it to the line and eventually outsprint Valverde.

Costa 3rd.
Cunego 4th.

 

[LaFlorecita]

He will take it to the line and eventually outsprint Valverde.

Costa 3rd.
Cunego 4th.

Just to show off his legendary new sprint skills of course

 

[Jspear]

Alberto for his 6th win this year.

Aye, I second that....He'll gain a couple seconds on his rivals. And yes, Kiwi will be 3rd.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

I see three strikes for the Pole. Winning this stage, then crush everybody in the TT and take the overall lead.

And this is still just training for the Ardennes for the lad.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

I see three strikes for the Pole. Winning this stage, then crush everybody in the TT and take the overall lead.

And this is still just training for the Ardennes for the lad.

In an utopic dream world perhaps

 

[Jack_89]

Monday AC showed that he can drop Valverde, so tomorrow he'll try to drop him again.(and i hope that)
otherwise Valverde wins easy

 

[Jelantik]

Monday AC showed that he can drop Valverde, so tomorrow he'll try to drop him again.(and i hope that)
otherwise Valverde wins easy

contador has mastered one new thing. Poker face. He pokered face valverde on monday.. If I were him, I would do it again, .. making a suffered face.. then.. kick their a-ss... heee heee

 

[Fzotrlool]

The same as scenario as stage 1.

1. Contador
gap
2. Valverde
gap
3. A sprinting Kwaitkowski
Rest of the leading group: Cunego, Pinot, Kreuziger, Peraud and Nieve.
gap
Evans surrounded by three BMC mates in a bigger group.

 

[metaCYCLE]

My wish for the stage is simple: carnage before Arrate - on Aiastia or even better on Izua!

 

[Dazed and Confused]

In an utopic dream world perhaps

No not at all. I expect something like this will happen sooner or later. However being a bit of a fan of the young Pole, I prefer it starting already now. The last climb should suit him very well. Better than the 13% on stage 1.

We shall see.

 

[VeloHuman]

Monday AC showed that he can drop Valverde, so tomorrow he'll try to drop him again.(and i hope that)
otherwise Valverde wins easy

Finish is downhill but it's a pretty immediate descent to the finish line, small gaps should hold. That means Valverde (or Kwiato or Cunego) need to be on Contador pretty tight rather than relying on things coming back together for a sprint in the short post-summit period before the finish.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

My wish for the stage is simple: carnage before Arrate - on Aiastia or even better on Izua!

Not likely. Ixua is a useful springboard for attacks (it is almost all of the important parts of Arrate - basically the same first 5km then Ixua turns to the left for another 350m uphill while Usartza (the peak of the road above the Santuario de la Virgen de Arrate) continues on for about 800m before another kilometre or so of uphill false flat.

However, Aiastia is not a difficult climb, I'm afraid, and the chances of it being used as a springboard for serious attacks are minimal.

Its other side will be the final climb of the extremely disappointing parcours for the Markina stage.

 

[CraZyCaLL]

Kwiatkowski will finish all 6 stages in third places and in 3-rd place in GC

 

[metaCYCLE]

Not likely.

Thanks a lot for your detailed insight LS. Let's pray for the unlikely then.

 

[VeloHuman]

Kwiatkowski will finish all 6 stages in third places and in 3-rd place in GC

But 1st in the Points Classification!

Also, he's a good bet for the penultimate stage if the break gets reeled in.

 

[De Snelle Duif]

Pierre Rolland should attack here

 

[manafana]

Hopng Cunego can do something good here expect better from Rui Costa too.

 

[ferryman]

What am I missing here? AC on Stage 1 form has got this in the bag no?

 

[Arnout]

I'm getting a bit bored with this stage to be honest. The first 5km of the final climb will feature some pace riding, after which some attacks will create two groups, one with about 3 leaders, one with about 10 chasers and they will either regroup in the descent or finish with about 5-10 seconds between them.

The final descent is kind of hilarious though.

 

[podunavac]

Only a successful breakaway (or an act of generosity) can prevent Contador from taking this one.
He looked good on Monday and even better on Tuesday when Valverde accelerated.
Can't see anyone shaking him off.