Tour de France Stage 4: Cambrai - Reims 153.5km

[auscyclefan94]

9 roundabouts in final 5kms. So the sprinters are going to want to choose the shortest side every time as riders could lose many places in each roundabout.

 

[TheTard]

But who wins today then?! I think mass sprint.

1. Petacchi
2. Cavendish
3. McEwen
4. Hushovd
5. Daniel Oss

 

[Ferminal]

I'm happy it's only 153km, no frying pan should ever be much longer than this.

Cavendish has to be the favourite, if he's not winning here it will be hard work to get a win anywhere. Despite his indifferent form this season he's still miles faster than anyone else in a straight line (considering no Haussler, Bos or Chicchi).

1. Cavendish
2. Petacchi
3. McEwen
4. Hushovd
5. EBH

Would love to see a break win though!

 

[craig1985]

Patrick Smith (Aus journalist)has said that the bike riders at the tour de france need to ride trikes as they can't stay up properley and it is the most overrated sporting event in the world.

That guy is a muppet.

Who does he write for? I've never heard of him.

OT, but today at work I was asked if I was going to ride the Tour de France next year. I must admit, a part of me died.

 

[Climbing]

If the breakaway doesn't work I think Petacchi will claim the stage.
The end is even a bit in ascent so it should favour him.

 

[Four Winds]

Some of you guys are extreme sadists with a serious need of adrenaline. There has to be a few flat easy stages. You can't have 10 spring classics followed by 10 days in the mountains or the guys would been taken home in boxes. Just enjoy the scenery!

 

[Roland Rat]

There has to be a few flat easy stages. You can't have 10 spring classics followed by 10 days in the mountains or the guys would been taken home in boxes. Just enjoy the scenery!

+1.

Besides, the Tour is not just about the GC riders. I'm actually looking forward to watching the sprinters go at it today.

 

[Pezrider]

Surely Cav won't stuff this one up. If it's a bunch sprint the fastest man will win and Cav is that man. Would love to see someone like Flecha or Voekler have a crack but I'm sure the sprintets won't allow them to stay away.

1. Cav
2. Hushovd
3. EBH
4. Petacchi
5. McEwen

 

[Barrus]

9 roundabouts in final 5kms. So the sprinters are going to want to choose the shortest side every time as riders could lose many places in each roundabout.

This could mean that we could once again see crashes. I hope not, but with this in the last 5k the GC contenders want to remain in the front, together with the sprinters and this could ensure some dangerous riding

 

[The Hitch]

9 roundabouts in final 5kms. So the sprinters are going to want to choose the shortest side every time as riders could lose many places in each roundabout.

thats the sort of thing that let the doomed breakaway stay away in the giro.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Who does he write for? I've never heard of him.

OT, but today at work I was asked if I was going to ride the Tour de France next year. I must admit, a part of me died.

Now that is funny! He writes for "the age". The pages in it are absolutely massive. He is an afl journo who was on SEN radio when he made such comments. He is not very liked.

 

[The Hitch]

cav
freire
farrar
hushovd
pettachi

 

[sublimit]

At least the stage isnt too long.

Cav
Hagen
Pettaci
Freire
Ciolek

 

[saganftw]

cav...to cause another crash,its quite technical finish and i dont think he can keep his bike in a straight line

now for real...i think petacchi is in great shape i put my money on him

 

[auscyclefan94]

according to bookwalter it is a hot day in france.

i find this pic of the htc bus quite funny
http://twitter.com/markrenshaw1/status/17937870439 Very social bunch or riders

 

[Roland Rat]

according to bookwalter it is a hot day in france.

i find this pic of the htc bus quite funny
http://twitter.com/markrenshaw1/status/17937870439 Very social bunch or riders

Clearly staged for the sponsors. Next we'll have Radioshack watching portable TVs, FDJ playing scratchcards and BBox... doing whatever the hell a BBox is.

 

[oevkride]

Boom boom!

BBox... doing whatever the hell a BBox is.

I really, really hope it is beatboxing This could add an new dimension to the race. Jersey for best beat

 

[luckyboy]

Just had a vision of an advert of the Saxo riders working in a bank. Imagine Andy

 

[Roland Rat]

I really, really hope it is beatboxing This could add an new dimension to the race. Jersey for best beat

Me too. If it were, though, the BBox jersey really should look like this:

Including clock.

 

[sometriguy]

CN live feed says Lancy is in a ****y mood today after a bad stage yesterday and following the stage with a hotel shared with some very happy dutch riders (world cup win)

 

[luckyboy]

Wonder if Cunego will go for the polka dot jersey now that he's lost quite a bit of time? It didn't look like he was too badly hurt yesterday. Just putting that out there..

 

[ManInFull]

Wonder if Cunego will go for the polka dot jersey now that he's lost quite a bit of time? It didn't look like he was too badly hurt yesterday. Just putting that out there..

I think Cunego will continue to be a non-issue in the Tour.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Wow! What a stage to pick to show whole.

 

[Publicus]

Wow! What a stage to pick to show whole.

LOL. I was thinking the same thing this morning.

 

[Roland Rat]

I think the Shack's minions' punishment for yesterday's fail is to ride on the front all day today. No possible tactical reason for them to do so.