Tour Down Stage 4:

[auscyclefan94]

How will the big sprinters beat griepel? Who's your pick for the stage?

 

[Ferminal]

Greipel cruises to victory.

Overall Classification at the end of Stage 3

1. Andre Greipel 9h53m38s
2. Greg Henderson at 14s
3. Gert Steegmans at 14s
4. Alejandro Valverde at 14s
5. Robbie McEwen at 16s
6. Jurgen Roelandts at 16s
7. Cadel Evans at 16s
8. Andriy Grivko at 19s
9. Graeme Brown at 20s
10. Robbie Hunter at 20s

 

[badboyberty]

Best chance for beating Greipel is for a team to take control and try to split the peloton into echelons when the crosswinds hit at Langhorne Creek.

Main problem with that is Columbia seem to be the masters of that style of riding right now. Greipel was even at the head of affairs heading over Wickham Hill so I don't think he'll be caught napping.

 

[Comobosques]

I think everyone will rally around Lance and he'll take the stage. His shear presence in the peleton will inspire riders from all over the world to take ridiculously long pulls for him. In post race interviews, many riders will be heard saying things like "He's a legend . . . who cares if hes on another team" and "hey, its all in the name of cancer research". Lance will then recount about this being "one of his best days ever on a bike" in the new book, entitled, "Its not about training".

 

[Moondance]

Easy victory for Greipel. Nothing to see here.

 

[issoisso]

Easy victory for Greipel. Nothing to see here.

It's not that cut and dried. But yeah, he's the guy to beat, surely.

Also, "Goolwa"? Where'd they get the name? Super Mario Land?

 

[craig1985]

It's not that cut and dried. But yeah, he's the guy to beat, surely.

Also, "Goolwa"? Where'd they get the name? Super Mario Land?

It means 'elbow' in the local Aboriginal language (thanks, google).

Now looking into my crystal ball it will tell me this:

* Greipel wins the stage without breaking into a sweat.
* A UniSA rider, a rider from Milram, a rider from E-E, and Jack Bobridge, will all be in the main break.

 

[issoisso]

It means 'elbow' in the local Aboriginal language (thanks, google).

Now looking into my crystal ball it will tell me this:

* Greipel wins the stage without breaking into a sweat.
* A UniSA rider, a rider from Milram, a rider from E-E, and Jack Bobridge, will all be in the main break.

Methinks Brown will elbow someone mid-sprint as a tribute to the locals

 

[auscyclefan94]

Methinks Brown will elbow someone mid-sprint as a tribute to the locals

he already swerved at Wyss in stage 2 and put him off his sprint twice in the one sprint in st 2. hoping someone beats griepel.

 

[Bike Boy]

Steegmans! it's too easy to pick Greipel

 

[fuggles]

Steegmans! it's too easy to pick Greipel

If anyone beats Greipel, I dont think it will be steegmans. His leadout is nonexistent.

 

[Anonymous]

That stage profile is sending me to sleep.

It'll obviously be Greipel. Hopefully "Brahwnie" (as Phil & Paul call him in a faux Aus accent) will stir things up with some kamikaze cornering.

 

[Bike Boy]

That stage profile is sending me to sleep.

It'll obviously be Greipel. Hopefully "Brahwnie" (as Phil & Paul call him in a faux Aus accent) will stir things up with some kamikaze cornering.

I kind of revealed it already, but this prediction is not based on rational reasoning.

Of course Greipel is gonna win, but I will stick with my unreasonable prediction.

 

[Tugboat]

I'm sticking with it... Sky get their train working properly, like we saw on Sunday, and bring Henderson in for the win.

 

[taiwan]

Was going to suggest someone other than Greipel, but he's been coming from about five riders back each time, not relying on a lead out. Don't see what Sky could do better. Leave the sprint later? Abandon the lead out and try and get on Greipel's wheel?

If they could get Henderson the intermediate sprints, second place could be safe.

1. Greipel
2.
3.
4.Henderson/ McEwen/ Steegmans/ Brown...

 

[Faserr]

There is always the possebility that Greipel gets boxed in. I think at Stage 2 he was a bit lucky that the door opened for him 200m form the finish.
If he gets the chance to fire his rocket, he wins, thats for sure, he's soo much stronger then the others.

 

[taiwan]

I think he'd have to be really unlucky to be boxed in for long enough to be a problem. I suppose it depends on the road the finish is on, though.

 

[Anonymous]

I'm sticking with it... Sky get their train working properly, like we saw on Sunday, and bring Henderson in for the win.

Ditto

They have to get it working eventually..

Nice go by Vigano as well on St3, up to 50th in the GC I have a gut feeling SKy are waiting for Saturday though when the race goes live in the GB.. think Russ & SWift will have a day out in a breakaway group.

 

[maltiv]

Sky's leadout has really been better than Columbia's in every stage in my opinion, it's just that sky's train has to be A LOT better than columbia's for Henderson to actually be able to beat Greipel.

 

[stefrees]

im gonna go for anthony roux, holding the sprinters at bay from a breakaway like he did in the vuelta.

 

[*G*K*S*]

McEwen is feeling good, so I'd bet on him.

 

[auscyclefan94]

That stage profile is sending me to sleep.

It'll obviously be Greipel. Hopefully "Brahwnie" (as Phil & Paul call him in a faux Aus accent) will stir things up with some kamikaze cornering.

If brown wins, I will be so annoyed, he sprints so dangerously and bumps into people. If he's out the back of the peleton then the peleton is a safer place in the sprint.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Sorry about the heading guys, that was a real stuff up on my behalf!

 

[hfer07]

looking at today's course- I guess the bets are off..... all aiming at Greipel...

 

[auscyclefan94]

I personally don't think it will be mcewen's day, he doesn't have the top end speed of some of the other sprinters. Why he gets some good placings is because he is good at positioning himself. Something griepel is not. He has a whole leadout train and seems to lose them in the sprint and have to come from a fair way back. I think Hendo is good with his positioning and has a bigger top end speed and he could be the one to take today's stage if they get it right. i hope BMC with kohler and hincapie can give Wyss a proper leadout because he is quite quick and has a big kick in the sprint. In both sprints he came from a long way back and was catching up to some other sprinters in the finish.

I think Wilunga will be for mcewen.

Final 3 km look tricky....