Giro d'Italia Stage 4: Savigliano - Cuneo (TTT) 32.5km

[Kender]

Weather Report for Savigliano

so 30% chance of rain and thunderstorms. could be interesting if it rains halfway through the stage. that would benefit the teams heading off first. hourly forecast shows chance of rain is in afternoon
however, wind speed increasing slightly as day goes on from the NW (tailwind)

start order

14:50 Cofidis
14:55 Colnago-CSF Inox (Pozzovivo)
15:00 Footon-Servetto-Fuji
15:05 BMC Racing Team (Evans)
15:10 Quick Step
15:15 Caisse d'Epargne (Bruseghin, Arroyo)
15:20 Acqua e Sapone (Garzelli)
15:25 Bouygues Telecom
15:30 AG2R La Mondiale
15:35 Androni Giocattoli (Scarponi)
15:40 Lampre-Farnese Vini (Cunego)
15:45 Team Katusha (Karpets)
15:50 Team Sky (Wiggins)
15:55 Omega Pharma-Lotto
16:00 Cervélo Test Team (Sastre)
16:05 Garmin-Transitions (Millar)
16:10 Rabobank
16:15 Team Milram (Gerdemann)
16:20 Liquigas (Basso, Nibali)
16:25 Team HTC-Columbia
16:30 Team Saxo Bank (Porte)
16:35 Astana (Vinokourov)

 

[santacruz]

No one is mentioning Svein Tuft on Garmin?? He is like 3 VandeVeldes crammed into one big *** 200lb Canadian, when it comes to the TTT, he will tow Garmin to glorious victory whilst they beg him to slow down before they poop their drug free panties.

 

[Ferminal]

am i the only one who thinks the ttt is boring and lame? where is the "i'm falling asleep" smiley?

Easier to watch than a 60km ITT...

 

[BikeRaceTV]

Really looking forward to the TTT tonight! If, like us, you're in a country that doesn't show much cycling coverage, then log on to http://bikerace.tv after the stage to watch the videos that matter.

We won't post any spoilers, so you can safely watch the highlights/finale without ruining the result!

 

[M Sport]

Greg Henderson is no slouch.

Good on TT's under 10km. 30+ kms he becomes average.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

am i the only one who thinks the ttt is boring and lame? where is the "i'm falling asleep" smiley?

They are unique, and pretty, but usually 20km of it is plenty long to me. The way last year's Tour was impacted by the TTT was absurd. I also think the rules should be different, and they should try more course variations (like a big climb, or big technical descent, with all team members having the same time as the last rider on the team (baring crash) cross at the same time).

Really looking forward to the TTT tonight! If, like us, you're in a country that doesn't show much cycling coverage...

Normally we delete such posts as spam, but I looked at your site, and it's not clogged with ads or anything non-cycling. I am asking though that you'll do more than come on here and post links to your site, and contribute to the conversation.

 

[jaylew]

My top 10:

Columbia
Garmin
Liquigas
Saxo Bank
Cervelo
Astana
Sky
Milram
Katusha
BMC

 

[hfer07]

top 4 regardless order:
*Liquigas
*Astana
*Garmin
*Sky

 

[adambarnes]

1st ag2r
2nd bbox
3rd quick step

 

[Night Rider]

1. HTC
2. Astana

 

[Scirea]

Weather Report for Savigliano

so 30% chance of rain and thunderstorms. could be interesting if it rains halfway through the stage. that would benefit the teams heading off first. hourly forecast shows chance of rain is in afternoon
however, wind speed increasing slightly as day goes on from the NW (tailwind)

weather.com has it at 70%... If it rains it could be really ugly. Anyway i would say Garmin has enough left even without CVV

 

[python]

start order. (bolded will be the top teams imo)

14:50 Cofidis
14:55 Colnago-CSF Inox
15:00 Footon-Servetto-Fuji
15:05 BMC Racing Team
15:10 Quick Step
15:15 Caisse d'Epargne
15:20 Acqua e Sapone
15:25 Bouygues Telecom
15:30 AG2R La Mondiale
15:35 Androni Giocattoli
15:40 Lampre-Farnese Vini
15:45 Team Katusha
15:50 Team Sky
15:55 Omega Pharma-Lotto
16:00 Cervélo Test Team
16:05 Garmin-Transitions
16:10 Rabobank
16:15 Team Milram
16:20 Liquigas
16:25 Team HTC-Columbia
16:30 Team Saxo Bank
16:35 Astana

 

[Choocher]

TTT: Recent History

I'm just wondering when the last time was that Garmin didn't place in the top three in a TTT they care about, such as this? Seriously, does anyone know? I can't think of a time recently when they have tanked a TTT. VDV is a big loss, but they can still go top 3.

 

[theyoungest]

Not much love for Rabo in this thread, but they were collectively the strongest team in the prologue: 7 riders in the top-50 (albeit carried to the line by the home crowd). No really great TT-ers, but no really bad ones either, makes for a balanced team of rouleurs which could surprise here.

 

[Scirea]

I think Rabo will have a good ride, would say somewhere 8-10th place.

 

[python]

I think Rabo will have a good ride, would say somewhere 8-10th place.

Not much love for Rabo in this thread, but they were collectively the strongest team in the prologue: 7 riders in the top-50 (albeit carried to the line by the home crowd). No really great TT-ers, but no really bad ones either, makes for a balanced team of rouleurs which could surprise here.

+1.
i agree completely. rabo is underestimated by almost everyone. I see them in the top 5 at least.

 

[Mellow Velo]

+1.
i agree completely. rabo is underestimated by almost everyone. I see them in the top 5 at least.

Yes, I've noticed Dekker Tifosi does that quite a bit.

 

[theyoungest]

Yes, I've noticed Dekker Tifosi does that quite a bit.

Yes, I was waiting for him to post something in this thread, but I decided to bring the Rabo love myself.

I'm serious, though. Flens, Van Emden and certainly Stamsnijder (who wasn't even supposed to ride) are going very well, and more than capable of doing a good TT. And, surprisingly, lil' Ardila is quite good at TTT-ing.

 

[python]

somehow i think brown will the most valuable rabo rider today. his pursuit experience on the track and young mollema gc ambitions ('enough of gesink's shadow') will get the rabo machine going.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Santambrogio can't TT at all, mountains is where he can help Evans.

From BMC site. Santambrogio is fine. He came 61st in the opening tt.

Schär actually crashed twice and severely bruised his elbow. But the Swiss said he will start Monday's 224 km stage from Amsterdam to Middelburg. "It's a real pity for Martin because we really needed him and I feel so sorry for him," Schär said. Two other BMC Racing Team riders involved in crashes were Mauro Santambrogio and Florian Stalder. Neither was seriously hurt. Brent Bookwalter, who finished second on Stage 1, used the word "insane" to describe Sunday's stage. "It was so dangerous. A total freak-fest," he said.

I have been saying my prayers all day for bmc. Hopefully they will pay off.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Yes, I was waiting for him to post something in this thread, but I decided to bring the Rabo love myself.

I'm serious, though. Flens, Van Emden and certainly Stamsnijder (who wasn't even supposed to ride) are going very well, and more than capable of doing a good TT. And, surprisingly, lil' Ardila is quite good at TTT-ing.

Yes, this course should suit the Rabo engines, no question. They don have to really carry anybody, bar maybe Ardila.

Talking of team love, Santambroggio maybe like a spare brick in this event, but BMC cannot afford to be at 7, after 3 days racing.
Remember how happy somebody was that he was unsuspended and able to Giro?

From BMC site. Santambrogio is fine. He came 61st in the opening tt.


I have been saying my prayers all day for bmc. Hopefully they will pay off.

Oh good. I'm happy for you.........and Cadel, of course!

 

[auscyclefan94]

At ttt start, Cuneo

It is already raining. With the rain, it will be more ideal for the more rehearsed teams.

If you don't like evans and think he is a grump, well maybe you should have a look at this

More recon for the BMC boys http://tweetphoto.com/22084904

Good luck boys!

 

[Mellow Velo]

At ttt start, Cuneo

It is already raining. With the rain, it will be more ideal for the more rehearsed teams.

Sky looked the best drilled team in Holland.
Rehearsed sounds like they are auditioning for a bit part.
Rain means lottery..........again. White lines, cobbled sections, punctures etc.
Thankfully, there appears to be few corners.
If it's wet, it may actually make the time gaps smaller..........unless the team crashes, of course.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Sky looked the best drilled team in Holland.
Rehearsed sounds like they are auditioning for a bit part.
Rain means lottery..........again. White lines, cobbled sections, punctures etc.
Thankfully, there appears to be few corners.
If it's wet, it may actually make the time gaps smaller..........unless the team crashes, of course.

Well practised then. If Astana haven't recconned the course then they might find it a bit harder than others.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

BMC have done extensive practise on it. That should help them.

Yes that was going to work with vandevelde and farrar on their team.



I think you maybe right. BMC will want to prove the press wrong.

vdv prefers to be a helper then a leader. Evans would have his support and the teams. Even with farrar would be a much better option.