Tour de France Stage 4: Cambrai - Reims 153.5km

[auscyclefan94]

Brent Bookwalter was 13th. Not bad at all.

BMC looked after Cadel really well. Brent being a strong prologue/tt rider can stay up there in sprints due to his power.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I wonder how much the cobbles yesterday zapped his speed. It toughen up the riders and his advantage being his top speed may have taken a dent.

I still expect him get 1 or 2 victories in this tour.

I'm certain he will get a couple stage wins, but I guarantee it will be when HTC own the peleton.

Did anyone notice what Lampre did with a km to go? It was a smart move and hurt HTC's train. Very good tactical move imo.

 

[stefrees]

Again I'll say it, Cav's dominance last year came down to his team, they delivered him to the line... he had a lot to do in that sprint.... and failed. He is very overrated.

How can you call someone overrated who has won 10 tdf stages over 2 years?

 

[Mellow Velo]

Cav will be pushing to get a Footon contract, next year.

 

[theyoungest]

How can you call someone overrated who has won 10 tdf stages over 2 years?

Yes, you can, if you think his victories are largely due to his team. I'm not sure I agree, though.

 

[Beech Mtn]

Petacchi went from a long way out for his win the other day. He said then he was in great form and could beat anybody, even Cav. Today he proved it. Dude can just launch from anywhere and no one can get by,

 

[Parrot23]

Petachi very strong on long drags: long uphill/false flat the other day, long 1000 metre drag today. Think at the Giro last year when he pipped Cav in an early stage he went early.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Finish is uphill, I am going to tip the Ale Jet again to win.

Proof is in the pudding!

 

[Cobblestones]

Lampre did really, really well. Good to see Ale Jet back in the game.

 

[stefrees]

EBH was blocked quite close to the end and looked very fast, huhovd was also beaten convincingly, good effort by gamin too

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

How can you call someone overrated who has won 10 tdf stages over 2 years?

1. IMO the level of sprinters wasn't as strong as usual.
2. His team owned the peleton -- and the other teams let them control the race... stupid. but now they have figured it out --

NOTE: I don't disagree he is extremely quick in a short distance, but he really needs his team's support imo.

 

[Kwibus]

Moerenhout: "Gesink had a flat tire in the last kilometre".
Our lucky man

Grats Pettachi with this nice win!

Cavendish and Hushovd were dissapointing. Freire ending around spot 10 in bunch sprints doesn't surprise me anymore

 

[Fourier]

Breaking news!
no mullet no more

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/photos/on-the-start-line-in-cambrai/129565

 

[auscyclefan94]

Cav will be pushing to get a Footon contract, next year.

Arkaitz Duran Daroca will be his leadout man.

 

[Beech Mtn]

I'm certain he will get a couple stage wins, but I guarantee it will be when HTC own the peleton.

Did anyone notice what Lampre did with a km to go? It was a smart move and hurt HTC's train. Very good tactical move imo.

Disrupting HTC's train has always been the rivals' key to beating Cav. It's nice to see a team able to do it. Cervelo managed that one stage last Tour, but that was all. Hopefully Lampre has the strength to keep it up. Sprints are far more interesting when it's not the Cav show.

 

[stjohnswell]

Moerenhout: "Gesink had a flat tire in the last kilometre".
Our lucky man

Grats Pettachi with this nice win!

Cavendish and Hushovd were dissapointing. Freire ending around spot 10 in bunch sprints doesn't surprise me anymore

I think we can go easy on Hushovd after yesterday

 

[Cobblestones]

Breaking news!
no mullet no more

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/photos/on-the-start-line-in-cambrai/129565

Nooooooooooooooooooooooo ....................

 

[autologous]

Ale Jet!!!!!ACF94 tipped it again!

Cav just faded away. He has choked like a typical Pom!

it takes a special kind of **** to refer to themselves in the third person. Mate, you give Oz a bad name. Calm down.

 

[Captain Serious]

Crikey, old Berny H can't put on long sleeves and a tie for the occasion? I'm suprised he tucked his shirt in

 

[therhodeo]

Disrupting HTC's train has always been the rivals' key to beating Cav.

Lampre is getting decent help from Cervelo, Garmin, Milram, and Sky this year. Lots of leadouts up there this year where there wasn't last year.

 

[Cobblestones]

Cav will be pushing to get a Footon contract, next year.

He could be the Euskaltel sprinter.

 

[WinterRider]

How about McEwan? He seems to be in the mix for the green jersey at this stage, but I haven't actually seen any of his sprinting yet (I blame the incredibly low res feed I had today).

Does anyone think he has a chance to keep it going?

Right now it looks like a two way fight between Ale-jet and Hushovd is shaping up in similar fashion to last year. One pure sprinter vs the all around rider.

Should be good.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Nooooooooooooooooooooooo ....................

He looks like Menchov

 

[Beech Mtn]

Breaking news!
no mullet no more

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/photos/on-the-start-line-in-cambrai/129565

But he's working some Vaughters sideburns. Maybe trying to get on Garmin next year.

 

[van nelle]

Lampre +1 Alessandro +1 clever

It's a shame Tyler's battered, he can win a lot this year I think, Garmin is so strong.

Thor will be ok, no suprise he don't have it after cobbles

+ suprised by Oss

I'm happy no one was killed!