Giro d'Italia 2021 Giro d'Italia, Stage 4: Piacenza - Sestola 186 km

[Escarabajo]

55% Yes and 45% No's for whatever we voted for!!!!

 

[postmanhat]

Fairly remorseless looking profile and potentially bad weather? If it was ridden hard I think the GC could be over for a fair few candidates. But probably only Ineos and DQS are strong enough to do that and would they be willing this early in the race?

 

[red_flanders]

Fairly remorseless looking profile and potentially bad weather? If it was ridden hard I think the GC could be over for a fair few candidates. But probably only Ineos and DQS are strong enough to do that and would they be willing this early in the race?

Yeah I just don't get why a lot of teams would bother with trying to get pink on this stage. Seems like the right call on this one is to conserve and defend. I'm hugely rooting for Evenepoel and as such I don't want to see them defending pink for almost 3 weeks.

If I'm DQS I would not help pull back a break for the bulk of the stage, and I would not burn any extra matches other than to not lose any GC time. Ineos seems like they are more willing, experienced, and under more obligation to hang onto Pink. Let them chase.

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Pancake flat first half (like too many stages in this race) and heading into a strong headwind with driving rain. Normally nobody wants to go in the break but then again (given the finish) nobody wants to chase so looks like a stalemate. Perhaps they should just do the first 75 km on the team buses again

 

[Cookster15]

I voted yes. Isn't it obvious?

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

55% Yes and 45% No's for whatever we voted for!!!!

You don't know what you voted for? Not even-a-poll?
You know.

You.
Know.

 

[Escarabajo]

You don't know what you voted for? Not even-a-poll?
You know.

You.
Know.

I thought I was voting for a poll, but that never happened!!!

 

[Sciatic]

I voted NO, to polls in general,

 

[sir fly]

I thought I was voting for a poll, but that never happened!!!

Tomorrow, after we learn the results...

 

[topcat]

That's what I've been asking myself. It's quite possible that Remco will want to impress and there's big hype and expectations so he'll give it a go. But there are quite a few very good climbers here with strong teams. I certainly hope they are not intimidated by Remcomania and will proceed in showing the young prodigy that this is not the Tour of Poland.

I think so too. But Remcomania (TM RTD) is so much fun. You should give it a go, knock yourself out!

 

[broppo]

i got 15$ on Gino Mader x 201. easy win!

 

[hayneplane]

Fairly remorseless looking profile and potentially bad weather? If it was ridden hard I think the GC could be over for a fair few candidates. But probably only Ineos and DQS are strong enough to do that and would they be willing this early in the race?

Is there enough potential in the route for damage like the T-A epic this year where the top 10 were scattered all over the road with minutes worth gaps between them supposing 1-2 teams wanted to lay it on the line and eliminate some contenders?

 

[Armchair cyclist]

55% Yes and 45% No's for whatever we voted for!!!!

I presume it is whether or not to remove the horns from cattle.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Is there enough potential in the route for damage like the T-A epic this year where the top 10 were scattered all over the road with minutes worth gaps between them supposing 1-2 teams wanted to lay it on the line and eliminate some contenders?

If the stage were in the final week, it would have been more likely imho. I think most will not risk it with 3 weeks head. Maybe Ineos or DQT, the strongest teams, could try something in the final?

PS: if some GC guys can't keep up on a wet descent though...

 

[Andre]

REMCOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

I fear for Dan Martin if there are technical descents in the rain

 

[Skalman]

I fear for Dan Martin if there are technical descents in the rain

Likewise for Remco, I'm freaking terrified, cant get his accident out of my head

 

[Tim Cahill]

An excellent stage to see if Simon Yates has learnt his lesson

Hopefully not and he puts in a big attack, because it would be far more entertaining.

 

[HelloDolly]

I se Vlasov going for pink ahead of other guys

 

[johnymax]

I fear for Dan Martin if there are technical descents in the rain

How about Dan Martin for the win?

 

[Savant12]

I fear for Dan Martin if there are technical descents in the rain

Even without rain, it won't be pretty.

 

[The Barb]

I'm loving the look of this stage, especially with the weather forecast.

The break could win but I'm leaning towards it being a GC day, largely because I figure there's a good chance in the last 50km some GC guy will be having a bad day and others will push the speed to eliminate him from GC contention.

If it's a GC day then I think Almeida should be favourite. Unless it becomes incredibly attritional he is unlikely to be dropped and his sprint is the best of the GC guys. I also think he will be super motivated to get a stage win after being seven times in the top four in Giro stages last year without winning.

If it's a day for the break then Simon Carr (80-1) is interesting. He has a history of allergies that mean he has always preferred wet weather and has climbed really well at times this season. Also, he dropped time yesterday so will certainly have freedom.

Either way, I think it'll be worth staying up for (finishes around 3:30am NZ time).

 

[Amazinmets87]

Weather update?

 

[Panda Claws]

Damn my phone app gives rain/snow for Sestola ALL DAY. The men will be separated from the boys.

 

[Velolover2]

Nervous GC stage. The top dawgs will be testing each other a bit without going all in.

I'm going with Bernal for the sprint if they arrive in a group of 7-10 riders together. Maybe Almeida is the fastest GC rider but I'm not sure he can survive on such a steep climb. Bilbao who I think have a better chance of surviving can be fast too.