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

[DBotero]

Demare announced he's on domestique duty,i expect Kristoff to do the same.J.Rod looks in decent shape to grab at least one more win if he's surviving this stage and he's got the Polka-dot jersey,he might want to keep him

 

[Punkan]

Re: Re:

One worrying sign for Sky is Stannard. Doesn't seem to be in super form. So there could be a risk that Froome only has G and maybe Rowe with him over the later cobble sections. G will probably be phenomenal as always.

Really? The winner of Omloop 2014 and 2015, one of the most powerful men in the peleton, stamina comparable with Cancellara and he won't be there?
Also, did you see him on stage 1 when he dragged the front group for 10+k?
Stannard will be priceless for Sky today, and would have been one of my top 5 favorites for the stage if not for his domestique role for Froome.

I know how strong Stannard is. Just uncertain about his form. I might be wrong, maybe he will be great today.

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

This stage should suit Kristoff quiet well. He can handle the cobbles and is usually a very strong sprinter in long stages. But, will Paolini be there for him, or will Katusha asign Paolini to protect Purito? Believe Purito could struggle badly on the cobbles, so someone like Paolini could be crucial for him. Since Katusha got the stage win yesterday, I think Kristoff might be on his own today and that will reduce his chance of winning.

I don't think Purito is seriously going for the GC, and I don't think his team would sacrifice a great chance for Kristoff either just to support him. If Rodriguez was serious about the GC, he wouldn't have sat up and given 3 second away yesterday.

Purito is going for the GC. He has said that this years course is the ideal course for him.

He can say what he likes - his actions suggest that he's not fully focused on it. Do you think Froome, Nibali or Contador would have sat up in the same position and given away seconds?

There is no way that Katusha will leave Kristoff on his own today.

 

[Hakkapelit]

Re:

Stannards form is fine, he punctured at a poor moment the other day which was the only reason he was not there for the Zeeland finale.

Getting dropped by Cav in NC doesn't ring any alarmbells either? Has he punctured both last stages or why is flagging in the rear all time?

 

[DBotero]

Re: Re:

This stage should suit Kristoff quiet well. He can handle the cobbles and is usually a very strong sprinter in long stages. But, will Paolini be there for him, or will Katusha asign Paolini to protect Purito? Believe Purito could struggle badly on the cobbles, so someone like Paolini could be crucial for him. Since Katusha got the stage win yesterday, I think Kristoff might be on his own today and that will reduce his chance of winning.

I don't think Purito is seriously going for the GC, and I don't think his team would sacrifice a great chance for Kristoff either just to support him. If Rodriguez was serious about the GC, he wouldn't have sat up and given 3 second away yesterday.

Purito is going for the GC. He has said that this years course is the ideal course for him.

He can say what he likes - his actions suggest that he's not fully focused on it. Do you think Froome, Nibali or Contador would have sat up in the same position and given away seconds?

There is no way that Katusha will leave Kristoff on his own today.

J.Rod lost a stage in Vuelta 2012 to Valverde because of this Nothing new here,doesn't mean he won't target the GC.

 

[Punkan]

Re: Re:

This stage should suit Kristoff quiet well. He can handle the cobbles and is usually a very strong sprinter in long stages. But, will Paolini be there for him, or will Katusha asign Paolini to protect Purito? Believe Purito could struggle badly on the cobbles, so someone like Paolini could be crucial for him. Since Katusha got the stage win yesterday, I think Kristoff might be on his own today and that will reduce his chance of winning.

I don't think Purito is seriously going for the GC, and I don't think his team would sacrifice a great chance for Kristoff either just to support him. If Rodriguez was serious about the GC, he wouldn't have sat up and given 3 second away yesterday.

Purito is going for the GC. He has said that this years course is the ideal course for him.

He can say what he likes - his actions suggest that he's not fully focused on it. Do you think Froome, Nibali or Contador would have sat up in the same position and given away seconds?

There is no way that Katusha will leave Kristoff on his own today.

Well, I trust his own word more than his actions yesterday. Guess we will just have to wait and see who is right.

Jeg vil gøre mit maksimale for at kæmpe med om sejren.

Translation: "I will do my maximum to fight for the victory."

http://www.feltet.dk/nyheder/joaquim_rodriguez_den_bedst_mulige_rute_for_mig/

 

[classicomano]

I see rain, but I dont know how long it takes for the cobbles to dry up again.

 

[DBotero]

Orica will wear commemorative armbands to honour Anzacs.

 

[miha1234]

Will today also be live stream from the beginning of the stage?

 

[Jagartrott]

So, when paris roubaix, which goes from south to north we get north wind (head wind) and when the tour de france takes place with a cobbles stage which goes from NE to SW we get SW wind (head wind)
wtf is wrong with the wind in this area

The route is generally to the SW, but towards the finale, there are important stretches in other directions (N, S), so there will be sections which will have crosswinds.

 

[Punkan]

MTN-Qhubeka is riding for EBH today. Since the stage isn't over 250k, EBH might actually be there in the end fighting for victory. But I'm not too opptimistic.

 

[blaxland]

stage top 3 sagan/degenkolb/kristoff if all are given free reign.then gc riders top 3 nibali/contador/van garderen.cant wait

 

[Publicus]

Astana is trying to place Westra in the break

 

[Alexandre B.]

Showers in Cambrai at the moment.

(briefly)

 

[BeagRigh]

Re:

Astana is trying to place Westra in the break

Successfully it seems....

 

[TMP402]

Re: Re:

Stannards form is fine, he punctured at a poor moment the other day which was the only reason he was not there for the Zeeland finale.

Getting dropped by Cav in NC doesn't ring any alarmbells either? Has he punctured both last stages or why is flagging in the rear all time?

He punctured yesterday and apparently did a big pull the day before (though I didn't see it). He hasn't shown anything great for tv but I heard big praise for his EBH 2012-like delivering the Skytrain to the foothills of mountains so I guess he booked his place on more than just what happened in February.

 

[Cimber]

I smell a great offensive by Astana later on (0:

 

[TMP402]

Michael Matthews finished last yesterday, flirting with the time limit, and now says he had trouble breathing last night. How the hell is he going to win a stage after that, and imagine how irresponsible Orica would look if he crashed again. Withdraw him!

 

[Miburo]

I smell a great offensive by Astana later on (0:

They've to knowing how good froome looks

 

[Punkan]

Re:

Michael Matthews finished last yesterday, flirting with the time limit, and now says he had trouble breathing last night. How the hell is he going to win a stage after that, and imagine how irresponsible Orica would look if he crashed again. Withdraw him!

Matthews is targeting stage 6. Guess he just hopes to survive today, then take it cool tomorrow and hopefully be ready on thursday. But I wonder if he will make it through today.

 

[indianfanboy]

Westra in the break like last year..Astana have some plans for today

 

[Punkan]

Kristoff before the stage

– Jeg kan kjøre for meg selv. Jeg har jo Jacopo (Guarnieri) og Luca (Paolini) til å kjøre for meg, men de må også hjelpe Rodriguez, sier Kristoff til TV2.

Translation: "I can ride for myself. I have Guarnieri and Paolini to ride for me, but they must also help out Rodriguez."

http://www.procycling.no/boasson-hagen-far-hele-laget-bak-seg/

Btw, Haller has pain in his wrist, so its doutbful he will be useful today. And Kosontsjuk is out.

 

[hrotha]

Re:

Michael Matthews finished last yesterday, flirting with the time limit, and now says he had trouble breathing last night. How the hell is he going to win a stage after that, and imagine how irresponsible Orica would look if he crashed again. Withdraw him!

Barring overwhelming medical reasons, that kind of decision is generally up to the rider himself.

 

[Miburo]

I can't see how it won't be carnage on the cobbles. Wind or no wind, rain or no rain.

 

[DBotero]

J.Rod and Froome are planing to ride for the win on this stage too