Tour de France Stage 4: Lorient - Mur de Bretagne - 172.5 km

[jobiwan]

A shorter climb means of course smaller time gains, but the less explosive guys also have less time to get back on the wheel of the explosive (and attacking) rider. Less explosive riders need more time to get on top speed. So once they're on top speed, the climb is almost over and the attacking rider is already far away.

So then the real question is: Does Contador have his regular explosive legs?

If he does, then he is still very much a threat to drop everyone but Gilbert tomorrow. If not, he's not likely to gain time.

This could be answered tomorrow, but we might have to wait until Super Besse or even Luz Ardiden to find out.

EDIT: And as Sylvester says below me, this isn't Mur de Huy or Mende. So I don't really think that Contador/Schleck will mix it up too much tomorrow. Evans probably will though, as he's closest to yellow.

 

[Sylvester]

Sanchez and Cunego won't be close, I'm afraid. This is not the Mur de Huy. Voeckler might try something from far out but I can't see anybody beating Gilbert. Evans to take over yellow with another second place. Rojas to do a surprise top 5.

 

[Ryaguas]

Sorry, anyways it'll be fine once get to the next page.

No... If you are going to make a post do it right...
bah...
anyway...

Gilbert will crush everyone, as always, tomorrow... Evans and Ryder to get the other spots on the podium... maybe Romain Feillu could put the surprise tomorrow his form is really fine...

 

[LaFlorecita]

So then the real question is: Does Contador have his regular explosive legs?

If he does, then he is still very much a threat to drop everyone but Gilbert tomorrow. If not, he's not likely to gain time.

This could be answered tomorrow, but we might have to wait until Super Besse or even Luz Ardiden to find out.

I hope he does.

He needs a lot of time, I remember him saying in an interview he had to take time on every stage, which is almost impossible, but if he feels he's got strong legs I think he will at least try tomorrow.

He could make up the time he's behind on Schleck in the time trial solely though, if he's really good, but that's too big a risk so he needs to attack.

 

[sultanofhyd]

I hope he does.

He needs a lot of time, I remember him saying in an interview he had to take time on every stage, which is almost impossible, but if he feels he's got strong legs I think he will at least try tomorrow.

He could make up the time he's behind on Schleck in the time trial solely though, if he's really good, but that's too big a risk so he needs to attack.

I think if he does attack tomorrow it will be just to test himself and get himself back into shape, if any time gaps appear it will be 10-15s max. As I said there are many high mountain stages and if he is in top form he can take a minute out of everyone on every mountain stage.

 

[LaFlorecita]

No... If you are going to make a post do it right...
bah...
anyway...

Gilbert will crush everyone, as always, tomorrow... Evans and Ryder to get the other spots on the podium... maybe Romain Feillu could put the surprise tomorrow his form is really fine...

Don't be so harsh on him. You're a cruel man

 

[BillytheKid]

It'll be bumper cars getting there. Chris Horner might do well on this hill. It's a little flat at the top though. Another crazy finish and stage. Really could be any of the mentioned

 

[ansimi]

We might get a full-out sprint at the intermediate which could be kind of fun. Even sprinters with no chance for the green seem to want to test their legs against the best and most of the sprinters won't be expecting much from the finish.

Evans to take yellow, Gilbert to take the stage and green but Rojas to get good points and stay in the mix.

Several small gaps among GC riders.

Bigger break-of-the-day than we've had so far.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I think if he does attack tomorrow it will be just to test himself and get himself back into shape, if any time gaps appear it will be 10-15s max. As I said there are many high mountain stages and if he is in top form he can take a minute out of everyone on every mountain stage.

I so hope he takes much time on the mountain stages. If he doesn't, I'm going to cry
And no, I'm not a softy, I'm a girl, and on top of that a huge fangirl.

 

[Midnightfright]

I so hope he takes much time on the mountain stages. If he doesn't, I'm going to cry
And no, I'm not a softy, I'm a girl, and on top of that a huge fangirl.

Atleast or your honest. It does seem a bit too soon to be crying though.

 

[sultanofhyd]

I so hope he takes much time on the mountain stages. If he doesn't, I'm going to cry
And no, I'm not a softy, I'm a girl, and on top of that a huge fangirl.

No need to cry, he is not in this position because he rode badly. Sh!t happens.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Atleast or your honest. It does seem a bit too soon to be crying though.

I'm always honest. And I won't cry until after the time trial, when it's been decided. I will be in Salamanca by then, so I can cry together with my Spanish boyfriend and family-in-law. Or not, if everything works out fine for me and Alberto.

 

[Midnightfright]

I'm always honest. And I won't cry until after the time trial, when it's been decided. I will be in Salamanca by then, so I can cry together with my Spanish boyfriend and family-in-law. Or not, if everything works out fine for me and Alberto.

or you can just congratulate Cadel after his decisive time-trial victory

 

[Animal]

Mods, please, downsize the image

@OP, resize a pic by pulling it through Sencha.io, like this:

Set the URL to http://src.sencha.io/<required width>/<original url> and it will resize maintaining the aspect ratio.

 

[theswordsman]

Easier said than done. Ask the guys at the Giro how that worked out.

Exactly. If Contador is the talent coming into his prime that some people believe, he'll have gained fitness from the Giro and be the best we've ever seen him. He's got to be an opportunist and gain back time whenever he's got good legs and a climb. Even if some guys can go with him, not all of them will, and it could be different guys different days.

I watched Schlecklet on Mt. Baldy and at the Tour de Suisse, staring at Danielson's bib number while little bald dudes from Radio Shack cavorted ahead.

There were 12 days in between the Tour de Suisse and Tour de France. He probably had at least one rest day right after TdS. One day was the Luxembourg Nationals. The last few days before the TdF would have been easy time on the Team Time Trial. There were no days in there to make magical leaps in fitness. He could get a small bump from TdS, but he hasn't had a day where he looked stronger than the guys who Contador beat at the Giro.

 

[LaFlorecita]

or you can just congratulate Cadel after his decisive time-trial victory

No, I won't. Never.

 

[theyoungest]

Exactly. If Contador is the talent coming into his prime that some people believe, he'll have gained fitness from the Giro and be the best we've ever seen him. He's got to be an opportunist and gain back time whenever he's got good legs and a climb. Even if some guys can go with him, not all of them will, and it could be different guys different days.

I watched Schlecklet on Mt. Baldy and at the Tour de Suisse, staring at Danielson's bib number while little bald dudes from Radio Shack cavorted ahead.

There were 12 days in between the Tour de Suisse and Tour de France. He probably had at least one rest day right after TdS. One day was the Luxembourg Nationals. The last few days before the TdF would have been easy time on the Team Time Trial. There were no days in there to make magical leaps in fitness. He could get a small bump from TdS, but he hasn't had a day where he looked stronger than the guys who Contador beat at the Giro.

There's no logic to Schleck's form. He just has it, at the right time. It's called magic. Watch it happen next week.

 

[Midnightfright]

No, I won't. Never.

Ha ha. Very good.

 

[sultanofhyd]

@OP, resize a pic by pulling it through Sencha.io, like this:

Set the URL to http://src.sencha.io/<required width>/<original url> and it will resize maintaining the aspect ratio.

Thanks, edited the first post.

 

[jens_attacks]

can't see past gilbert.he will demolish everyone.vino will try again but it's impossible to beat gilbert,i don't think even alberto will beat him.
1.gilbert
2.contador
3.vino
4.evans
5.horner

 

[Parrulo]

There's no logic to Schleck's form. He just has it, at the right time. It's called magic. Watch it happen next week.

lol exactly

 

[No_Balls]

can't see past gilbert.he will demolish everyone.vino will try again but it's impossible to beat gilbert,i don't think even alberto will beat him.
1.gilbert
2.contador
3.vino
4.evans
5.horner

Exactly. I dont think this climb suit him over Gilbert. But he might take some couple of seconds to AS.

I think he will try tomorrow.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Ha ha. Very good.

Well, I like Cadel better than Andy, but that's not really difficult.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

There's no logic to Schleck's form. He just has it, at the right time. It's called magic.

Magic? Is that what they call it these days?

 

[LaFlorecita]

can't see past gilbert.he will demolish everyone.vino will try again but it's impossible to beat gnilbert,i don't think even alberto will beat him.
1.gilbert
2.contador
3.vino
4.evans
5.horner

I would like this result, it would be good for my velogames team as well. I' ve got the first three in there.