Tour de France Tour de France 2023, stage 4: Dax - Nogaro, 181.8k

[Netserk]

Marie Blanque looks like it will be fireworks tomorrow, but it doesn't look like a GC shakeup day.

We will only see the same kind of GC action as in 2020 if the break is caught (or similarly only 1 or 2 riders have a small gap). Otherwise the best we can hope for is a Yates attack.

 

[Ranagazoo]

One thing we can agree on is that flat stages suck, do we really need 8 of them in one Tour?

 

[postmanhat]

Thor Hushovd on Norwegian TV thinks Wærenskjold and Kristoff should change roles. He does look stronger. At least today.

Been thinking the same. Waerenskjold is ridiculously good at delivering Kristoff who just isn't quick enough this season to capitalise on it. Reversing the roles would probably bring Uno-X some more points and maybe a podium spot?

Pretty terrible mistake by Soren today though causing the crash. First GT in his first WT season, and the naivete really showed.

 

[frisenfruitig]

One thing we can agree on is that flat stages suck, do we really need 8 of them in one Tour?

Are there really 8? Ugh.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Cav worried about Luis Leon in the interview.
any news of his condition?
Update:

174

Sánchez Luis León

Astana Qazaqstan Team

​

+ 00​

 

[QueenStagiaire]

By the way, I find it funny how ASO have apparently invented tough Grand Départs for the second time in four years.

 

[Izzyeviel]

yup. you do have to wonder whats going on when you hear commentators say that. like have they only just started watching cycling this month?

 

[Gratemans]

well it wasn't the sprinters who had problems - it was the people who weren't going for the sprint nor GC who kept crashing at the back. Lack of attention? over confidence in their cornering abilities? oil on the track? Ran out of talent?

I know he's not been getting great results but that's a bit harsh on Jakobsen.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Philipsen was also really strong. 600m before the finish he wasn’t even in MVDP’s wheel but 2-3 riders behind. He first had to close that gap and the still sprint for victory.

was just on the limit tho. He said he was cooked in the last 50m. Probably because of all the fighting he had to do and follow MVDP's wheel.

 

[DNP-Old]

Van der Poel relegated... So what exactly is his punishment?

 

[Rob5091]

I see Cosnefroy got himself a nice 2,000 Euros for his "attack" (hope he gives some to Delaplace).

 

[Didinho]

Van der Poel relegated... So what exactly is his punishment?

They’re letting Philipsen suffer even longer today?

 

[Izzyeviel]

Van der Poel relegated... So what exactly is his punishment?

what was his crime?

 

[Rob5091]

LL Sanchez and Guarnieri have both broken collarbones and have abandoned. Shame for them.

 

[DNP-Old]

what was his crime?

The kamikaze bomb he dropped on Girmay.

 

[Izzyeviel]

I didn't notice that. Its quite amusing how Jasper deviated more today than he did yesterday & no-one seems to care.

 

[saunaking]

The kamikaze bomb he dropped on Girmay.

loooooool but nothing for the uno-x guy?? WTF? (I don't have an opinion on whether MVDP should be punished or not)

 

[radioshack]

One thing we can agree on is that flat stages suck, do we really need 8 of them in one Tour?

Always takes the life out of the race.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Congrats to Jasper-no-disaster! (so far) After some sprinting carnage tomorrow time for first serious climbs.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

I think he should imo, leadout riders who just sit up in the sprint after doing their leadout is so dangerous..

I understand what you are thinking about, but what shall they do? They are properly cooked and legs full of lactate.

I’ve felt many times that lead out guys that moves over half the road when they are done are looking like they are taking a big risk and sometimes it’s very close they make a big crash this way.

Wærenskjold did drift slightly right today, but seeing the pictures from above he doesnt move that much right closer to the barriers. Then Coquard moves slightly left and Wærenskjold goes down.

His fault, but very unfortunate. Luckily there wasn’t a lot of riders behind so it was just a small crash.

 

[Boehmand]

I understand what you are thinking about, but what shall they do? They are properly cooked and legs full of lactate.

I’ve felt many times that lead out guys that moves over half the road when they are done are looking like they are taking a big risk and sometimes it’s very close they make a big crash this way.

Wærenskjold did drift slightly right today, but seeing the pictures from above he doesnt move that much right closer to the barriers. Then Coquard moves slightly left and Wærenskjold goes down.

His fault, but very unfortunate. Luckily there wasn’t a lot of riders behind so it was just a small crash.

Leadout riders will almost always sit up and drift back, because if they keep pedalling hard they give wind shadow to competitors behind... and they want to be a position nuisance for a second or two (without crashing anyone).

Waerenskjold's mistake was not staying in his lane and drifting towards the barrier.

 

[Andy schleck]

One thing we can agree on is that flat stages suck, do we really need 8 of them in one Tour?

It's just 7 flat stages. The route is fine.
Remember past tours like 2003, 2005? Tours with 10/11 flat stages and so few mountain stages. The route in the present is so much better than in the past.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Waerenskjold's mistake was not staying in his lane and drifting towards the barrier.

Yes, but from the one replay I saw from above it seemed like he didnt move that much to the right and if Coquard had gone straight ahead instead of drifting left they wouldn’t touch, right?

But of course, as Wærenskjold looked left and drifted slightly to the right it’s fair he gets the blame for it.

 

[Red Rick]

Relegation for leadouts makes no sense. Either relegate the sprinter or DQ the leadout

 

[Boehmand]

Yes, but from the one replay I saw from above it seemed like he didnt move that much to the right and if Coquard had gone straight ahead instead of drifting left they wouldn’t touch, right?

But of course, as Wærenskjold looked left and drifted slightly to the right it’s fair he gets the blame for it.

It was a light drift, resulting in a light touch - which then brought Waerenskjold totally out of balance and caused the crash, I don't think Waerenskjold should be penalised too harshly, last in the group seems fair.