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

[Cramps]

This from http://www.ciclismointernacional.com/tour-de-france-2015-stage-4-preview/

Sectors 6 through to 1 follow in a space of 33km. If you get dropped, there isn’t much time to rejoin. The hardest section is number 2. The cobbles are rough and it was given a 4 star rating in Paris-Roubaix. We have 3 sectors that featured in the 2015 Hell of the North: Quievy, Python and Maugre. They were given 4, 2 and 3 stars, respectively. This stage is not near the difficulty level of Paris-Roubaix, but the final 70km, will be difficult to control.

 

[Punkan]

Re: Re:

I wonder what Etixx-Quick will do today. Do Stybar get a free role? Are they going to try to put Martin in yellow? Do the belive that Cav have a shot today? Will they protect Uran?

Cavendish clearly thinks he can win the stage, and Kwia is said to be able to gain some time back. I fear doing all this, and getting Martin into yellow, AND protecting Uran will prove another Zeeland/Het Volk-like failure.

Curious why Kwia want to gain back some time. Surely he is not aiming to do a good GC? Is he hoping to get in yellow later on? Trusting he will do well on Le Havre stage, Mur de Bretange and that the team will deliver in the TTT? I actually believe Stybar is in a better position to get in yellow beside Martin.

 

[Poursuivant]

ASO say we put cobbles in because a TDF winner should be a good all rounder, yet put in the smallest amount of TT since The Black Death.

 

[46&twoWheels]

Re:

ASO say we put cobbles in because a TDF winner should be a good all rounder, yet put in the smallest amount of TT since The Black Death.

cobbles = 13 km
TT = 13 km

fair

 

[Pantani Attacks]

Re:

ASO say we put cobbles in because a TDF winner should be a good all rounder, yet put in the smallest amount of TT since The Black Death.

Aka suck on that Chris "Bambi on Ice" Froome

 

[Ryongsyong]

Cheers. Those from PR, how many difficulty stars do they have?

I have read there's one **** and the others are mostly ** or ***.

Okay, so one section is f++k and some of the others are t+t, but what's the one with two letters?

 

[Cimber]

15 km to the 1st sector. Will be interesting, but after that there is another 80 km to the next. So the 1st one will just to an appetizer

 

[Pantani Attacks]

Cheers. Those from PR, how many difficulty stars do they have?

I have read there's one **** and the others are mostly ** or ***.

Okay, so one section is f++k and some of the others are t+t, but what's the one with two letters?

Or you know, they're star ratings like the previous post implied?

 

[SeriousSam]

Re: Re:

ASO say we put cobbles in because a TDF winner should be a good all rounder, yet put in the smallest amount of TT since The Black Death.

Aka suck on that Chris "Bambi on Ice" Froome

Despite almost no TT, which he isn't good at anymore anyway, classics style hilltop finishes which, in both Froome's words and that of many posters the day before yesterday didn't suit him, and dangerous cross winds, Chris The Allrounder leads the Tour, with a significant gap to 2 out of his 3 rivals, and an apparently significant edge in w/kg over the 3rd.

If he gains time today it will be utterly hilarious and cause a forum meltdown, yet also unfortunate because it would hurt the intrigue for the battle of GC.

 

[sultanofhyd]

First sector in about 10 km

 

[the sceptic]

Froome solo attack today would be nice

 

[BYOP88]

Can we just fast forward the stage to the cobble sections.

 

[Stilletto]

Just me who think giro was so much better already ?

 

[sultanofhyd]

Re:

Just me who think giro was so much better already ?

Yes, just you.

 

[ILovecycling]

Re:

Can we just fast forward the stage to the cobble sections.

Fight for positions will be pretty interesting too

 

[sir fly]

Nice.
Step up a bit. Just to sort it out.

 

[hrotha]

Re:

Just me who think giro was so much better already ?

The Tour has been great so far, up there with the Giro. But then again, the first week was never the problem with this route.

 

[Eclipse]

ITV mini-interview reiterates that Froome is looking forward to today and wants to set the record straight. Bluff?

 

[The Hitch]

This is the longest stage in the Tour? At 221? Damn, The Giro had 260

 

[Stilletto]

How about a stage mimicked like a biathlon race? Pursuit race
Leader starts first 20ks flat then up a mur then down obv. Then 2k cobbles then do it all again 4 times ?
Lol who would win if the they started like the gc today ?

 

[sultanofhyd]

Re:

This is the longest stage in the Tour? At 221? Damn, The Giro had 260

Which was flat and easy enough that Contador had no trouble riding it immediately after dislocating his shoulder. Doubt anyone can do that in this stage.

 

[rghysens]

Re:

This is the longest stage in the Tour? At 221? Damn, The Giro had 260

It is the shortest longest stage ever, if you know what i mean.

 

[Andro]

Sky riding really fast right now. Afraid of Westra in the break?

 

[perico]

Trick question: If TeJay gets yellow this week, would he officially be the second, third, or fourth American to wear the jersey?

 

[sultanofhyd]

Stannard puncture