2015 Tour De France Stage 4: Seraing - Cambrai, 223.5 km

[The Hitch]

Re:

Really should be an outright ban on TTT's outside of the first five days of grand tours.

Your post is exactly 9 words too long.

 

[thehook]

Really interested to see how a motivated Tony Martin, with the possibility of yellow, goes on the cobbles. I've always thought he could be a great Paris Roubaix rider if he ever decided to tackle it.

Same, will be interesting.

Great Point! I always thought to myself as well. Now that Tony does not dominate the TT's. Like he used to. He could be a rider for the stones. Same as Fabian did when he was loosing a bit of his dominance in the TT.

Really looking forward to tomorrow.

 

[Walkman]

Really interested to see how a motivated Tony Martin, with the possibility of yellow, goes on the cobbles. I've always thought he could be a great Paris Roubaix rider if he ever decided to tackle it.

THIS!!

I want Etixx to step up and give Tony some support here. Then Tony to drop the hammer and solo to victory!

 

[UsPostal4L]

Re:

Really should be an outright ban on TTT's outside of the first five days of grand tours.

you most be jokeing

 

[damian13ster]

Really interested to see how a motivated Tony Martin, with the possibility of yellow, goes on the cobbles. I've always thought he could be a great Paris Roubaix rider if he ever decided to tackle it.

THIS!!

I want Etixx to step up and give Tony some support here. Then Tony to drop the hammer and solo to victory!

He will get help. I am sure Martin will sit on Kwiatkowski's and Stybar's wheel 95% of time. They are focused on giving him yellow

 

[FCKAC]

Re:

I'm hoping for a dry stage. Astana to dish out the pain as soon as they hit the cobbles, together with the usual suspects (Etixx, Lotto, etc). I'm curious to see if Froome and Quintana can handle this, while I'm pretty sure Berto will be very well protected by his team.

Etixx could be the deciding factor in this tour. In stage two, they help Froom and AC. So will they be a factor for Nibali's time gap?

 

[phanatic]

Re: Re:

Really should be an outright ban on TTT's outside of the first five days of grand tours.

you most be jokeing

I think there's a lot of agreement on that.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Re: Re:

rain is forecasted tomorrow. let's hope!

No rain then I see...

Rain Returns to Tour de France Tuesday and Wednesday
Eric Leister
By Eric Leister, Meteorologist
July 6, 2015; 7:10 PM ET
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After a comfortable day for the Tour de France on Monday, rain is back in the forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday.
Tuesday's Stage 4 of the Tour de France will take cyclists from Seraing, Belgium, to Cambrai, France. While the day will start off dry with some sunshine, clouds will increase during the first half of the stage.
Skies will become mostly cloudy as the riders progress toward Cambrai with a couple of showers and even the threat of a thunderstorm.
As soon as thunder is heard, the threat of being struck by lightning--when even on a bicycle--is present.

http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/perfect-day-shaping-up-for-tou/49776781

 

[Sasquatch]

These cobbles may not be that hard but don't underestimate them. 50% of the peloton don't ride on cobbles regularly. There will still be carnage.

 

[movingtarget]

The big drive by Etixx to put Tony in Yellow. Expect another GC shake up. Can the lightweights get through unscathed ? Nibali will be hoping to pull back some time on Froome.

 

[Taxus4a]

Uff, I didnt remenber is was so long stage, very bad for Rigo injured

 

[hfer07]

very important stage for the GC riders- some will try to stay out of trouble (Froome & Contador), others to simply survive in one piece (Quintana) while few may see opportunity to get back precious time (Nibali). I see SKY & Astana holding the upper hand over Tinkov & Movistar as far as men power for the cobbles-Contador must get literally glued to Sagan if he wants to profit from the terrain.

Let the carnage continue

 

[Sasquatch]

Sky won't hold the upper hand with Froome in the team.

Astana are going to be insanely strong today and don't understimate Tinkov.

Etix though, they are going to rip the field to shreds to set up Martin for yellow.

 

[richwagmn]

Re:

Sky won't hold the upper hand with Froome in the team.

Astana are going to be insanely strong today and don't understimate Tinkov.

Etix though, they are going to rip the field to shreds to set up Martin for yellow.

Sky will be nursing Froome along. Contador is a much better bike handler than Froome any day of the week.

I agree on Etix.

 

[rghysens]

Last year I predicted something similar, and I was horribly wrong.
But still: 50men bunch sprint and Froome retains yellow.

 

[gerundium]

any chance Cavendish survives the cobbles to sprint for the win today?

 

[tomorrow]

if it rains, astana and tinkoff will tear the field to pieces. If not, than it will be a larger group sprint. Either way, degenkolb for the win.

 

[capuldemetal]

I was just thinking..what if movistar will hit the front as soon as the first sector and will start to pull? If i remember wll in E3 NQ has ridden quite well the cobbles in wet weather.

 

[lemon cheese cake]

Re:

any chance Cavendish survives the cobbles to sprint for the win today?

Unlikely but might be possible if his Michealgate cobble form is still with him.

I dont recognise the name of the cobbled sectors. Are they from Paris Bruxelles more than Paris Roubaix?

 

[capuldemetal]

There are only 2 sectors from Paris--Roubaix.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Re:

Uff, I didnt remenber is was so long stage, very bad for Rigo injured

Has Uran been injuried?

 

[capuldemetal]

No.(twitter)

 

[Hakkapelit]

Re:

Are we expecting Rowe, Thomas and Stannard with Froome in their wheels to ride away from the rest tomorrow?

Stannard will bonk, but otherwise correct. Froome to take bonusseconds again.

 

[rghysens]

Re:

There are only 2 sectors from Paris--Roubaix.

5. (sectors 6 - 2 have all been used in recent editions of Paris-Roubaix).

 

[Eclipse]

Really interested to see how a motivated Tony Martin, with the possibility of yellow, goes on the cobbles. I've always thought he could be a great Paris Roubaix rider if he ever decided to tackle it.

THIS!!

I want Etixx to step up and give Tony some support here. Then Tony to drop the hammer and solo to victory!

Whatever he does it's destiny he ends up 1 second off yellow.

---

I think Froome may surprise some people, he was talking up this stage on UK radio pre-tour. Said that he was actually looking forward to the cobbles, just wanted to actually reach them this year lol.