Tirreno Adriatico - Stage 4 - Narni → Chieti - 240km

[Anonymous]

Weather

Current GC

1 Tyler Farrar (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo 9:53:51
2 Juan José Haedo (Arg) Saxo Bank Sungard 0:00:05
3 Lars Boom (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 0:00:06
4 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank Cycling Team 0:00:08
5 Thomas Leezer (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team
6 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team
7 Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team
8 Bram Tankink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team
9 Ramunas Navardauskas (Ltu) Team Garmin-Cervelo 0:00:15
10 Andreas Klier (Ger) Team Garmin-Cervelo 0:00:17

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Very similar to stage 4 last year. That was a very good stage, but I think here the climb into Chieti isn't as close to the finish. Maybe Scarponi can drop everybody only to lose the race by celebrating too early again.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Going to be along stage this one!!!

Favourites
Garzelli
Evans
Visconti
DiLuca
Rodriguez
Cunego
Scarponi
Nibali
Gilbert
Gasparotto
Iglinsky
Gesink

 

[roundabout]

Gesink in "whatever color is the leader's jersey now" after the stage.

 

[El Pistolero]

Definitely something for Big Phil. He'll win.

Gesink in blue and white jersey.

 

[auscyclefan94]

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Actually, after comparison to last year's finish, the climb is slightly steeper and closer to the finish (about 2-3km last year), but last year's had a second, shorter steep ramp very close to the finish.

 

[roundabout]

true

finish last year in case anyone's interested

http://www.gazzetta.it/grandeciclismo/tirrenoadriatico/img/t04_ukm.jpg

edit:

IMO the time gaps at the top should be similar to the stage to Colmurano last year

http://cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/race.asp?raceid=16991

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

In my opinion, NO, I disagree totally with that.

Last year 4km climb, this year it's 1km... this is much more suitable to punchy guys like Gilbert and the gaps will be much smaller.

 

[roundabout]

disagree with who/what?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

it's not like colmurano. That climb was also 1km, but heavier

 

[El Pistolero]

In my opinion, NO, I disagree totally with that.

Last year 4km climb, this year it's 1km... this is much more suitable to punchy guys like Gilbert and the gaps will be much smaller.

The gaps will be smaller with the rest, but Gilbert will take a relatively huge gap on the others

Hope my words don't come back to haunt me tomorrow, but I have full confidence in Big Phil

 

[Havetts]

Philippe is the best of the world in doing that right now, not such a risky bet! No idea who would win it if he wouldnt and Vino isnt there.

 

[skidmark]

Going to be along stage this one!!!

Favourites
Garzelli
Evans
Visconti
DiLuca
Rodriguez
Cunego
Scarponi
Nibali
Gilbert
Gasparotto
Iglinsky
Gesink

I'm surprised that you would overlook Ballan in such a stage, ACF.

I wouldn't be terribly surprised to see Canc put in a good effort on this either, if he truly is interested in testing himself in the hilly classic type races.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

The gaps will be smaller with the rest, but Gilbert will take a relatively huge gap on the others

Hope my words don't come back to haunt me tomorrow, but I have full confidence in Big Phil

Should you? Knowing it was Ballan who held his wheel in Monte Paschi and Cunego, Cancellara and the others weren't that far back. Similar climb.

I don't think Phil is quite there yet formwise. Enough to win yes, but I really don't think he can pull a substantial gap

 

[Jamsque]

I want to see Evans show himself for the first time this season.

 

[insideout leadout]

The steepness of that climb isn't to Gilbert's advantage even though it's just 1k. If J-Rod is back into Montelupone shape he should be the one to watch together with the lampre duo Cunego/Scarponi. But Gilbert proved me wrong many times

 

[El Pistolero]

Final part of Montepaschi Strade Bianche is pretty steep as well and Gilbert went from really early there.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I think both the finishes in macerata and chieti will not be overly descisive.

Last year the stage to chieti had many longer climbs proceeding the finale but this year there are few short climbs which will suit gilbert better.

 

[hfer07]

looking at that last nasty hill close to the finish, I'm going to go with J-Rod, Evans, Gesink & Gilbert

 

[thrawn]

Ballan to finish 2nd yet again.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I think this is too similar to a Fleche Wallone like finish so I am not sure that gilbert will like it. Staage 5 will suit him better. as hfer07 said, J-Rod, Evans and Gesink will fight it out.

 

[Ferminal]

Strade Bianche ended with maybe 500m at these sorts of gradients and he managed there.

Mur de Huy has ultra steep sections over 15% so it's a bit different. Saying that though this has 500m @ 13.4%. Gilbert "struggled" in the Vuelta finish at de Jaen, but I think it was more the >20% gradients in sections which hurt him.

 

[boomcie]

If Van Avermaet really believes he's going to be good in the Ardennes this year, he'll have to be up there today. Good test for him.

 

[laurentiu46]

Dark horse for this stage: Wouter Poels He showed really good shape at the Tour Med and in Murcia.