Vuelta 2018 Stage 4:Vélez-Málaga - La Alfaguara 161.4km

[Rollthedice]

Rolland shows to the camera how to perform a legal sticky bottle.

 

[Red Rick]

Anyone in the break close in GC?

 

[fuiers]

Mr. Marcus descending casually and breaking from the peloton in the process.

 

[spalco]

Re:

Anyone in the break close in GC?

I think Ben King is virtual red at the moment, he was 4:33 back.

 

[Laplaz]

So I think the break is gonna take this?

 

[Red Rick]

So I think the break is gonna take this?

Looks pretty damn likely right now

How much time did they pull back on Montevergine this year? 4 minutes in 18km or something? They're gonna start the climb with more than 5 minutes it looks like.

Sky will do enough to keep the jersey if Kwiat doesn't get dropped.

 

[yaco]

You better hope that Kwiatkowski is quickly out of the red jersey or this will be a boring race - Sky continue their fraud of riding at a funeral pace during the early part of a mountain stage - Breakaway riders must love Sky in GT's.

 

[sir fly]

The gap's growing and the escapees know how to climb.
If the bunch starts pulling them back by usual rate, they'll still have 5 minutes for the climb. But I doubt the peloton will start the chase right away.

 

[HelloDolly]

Re:

You better hope that Kwiatkowski is quickly out of the red jersey or this will be a boring race - Sky continue their fraud of riding at a funeral pace during the early part of a mountain stage - Breakaway riders must love Sky in GT's.

There is no one stopping any other team riding
In fairness to SKY they are not the only team in the race

No one wants to chase as they fear Valverde or/and Kwaito and are thinking of the long game

 

[spalco]

Sky will do enough to keep the jersey if Kwiat doesn't get dropped.

If I was Sky DS I would pull back the break only if I wasn't optimistic about Kwiatkowski's chances to win the whole race.
If I thought he's strong enough to win the Vuelta, I wouldn't care if the break wins the jersey today.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Re:

Anyone in the break close in GC?

I think King @ 4:33 and Gastauer @ 5:06 are the only ones within 10 minutes

 

[Red Rick]

Sky will do enough to keep the jersey if Kwiat doesn't get dropped.

If I was Sky DS I would pull back the break only if I wasn't optimistic about Kwiatkowski's chances to win the whole race.
If I thought he's strong enough to win the Vuelta, I wouldn't care if the break wins the jersey today.

Why the hell would Kwiatkowski be able to win the whole race after

- never showing anywhere near the level to win GTs in the high mountains
- having raced Dauphine, Tour and Pologne

 

[spalco]

Why the hell would Kwiatkowski be able to win the whole race after

- never showing anywhere near the level to win GTs in the high mountains
- having raced Dauphine, Tour and Pologne

I don't really have a useful answer to that other than that it's Team Sky.

 

[Red Rick]

I think Rolland must be fancying his chances right now

 

[Laplaz]

Rolland can't lose this, right?

 

[ppanther92]

Re:

Rolland can't lose this, right?

Not unless he already burried his legs with useless attacks in the last two stages. Especially yesterday.

 

[sir fly]

Stage victory + KOM points. Should be exciting.

 

[ppanther92]

Maybe Gastauer and Mate can fight him.

 

[Bot. Sky_Bot]

Sky will do enough to keep the jersey if Kwiat doesn't get dropped.

If I was Sky DS I would pull back the break only if I wasn't optimistic about Kwiatkowski's chances to win the whole race.
If I thought he's strong enough to win the Vuelta, I wouldn't care if the break wins the jersey today.

Why the hell would Kwiatkowski be able to win the whole race after

- never showing anywhere near the level to win GTs in the high mountains
- having raced Dauphine, Tour and Pologne

First, we have hardly any information about GT contenders shape.
And you are probably right with 2nd point - after TdF and TdP (and training camp after TdP) he must be fatigued.
But first point - since 2013 he hasn't been allowed to race targeting his own GC place. With his TdF '17 or '18 shape (but without TdF in legs) he could be easily at Vuelta podium.
His rivals -at this Vuelta 5 top GT riders doesn't compete in GC (CF, TD, GT, VN, RP) others are so far question mark (NQ, SY).
Yes, Nairo and Simon should fight for overall victory, others 10-15 riders (including Kwiatek) should compete for 3-10.

 

[shalgo]

Typical brilliant EF tactics from Rolland: he is third as they approach the intermediate sprint but just lets King and Wallays ride away from him. Although I suppose he might think that he can make up whatever gap they get on the climb.

 

[repre]

Stalnov will win this

 

[Rollthedice]

Rolland seems cooked.

Edit: He is still alive.

 

[shalgo]

Re:

Rolland seems cooked.

Yes, maybe he just doesn't have the legs today. I don't know why he went in the breaks the other days instead of waiting for a day like today when he could actually win.

 

[fuiers]

Rolland attacks.

 

[shalgo]

Well, I guess Rolland does have some legs after all.