Tour de France - Stage 4, Tue Jul 2, Nice (TTT), **Unmasked Spoilers**

72hundred

Hi,

Can't find it anywhere online. What time is the TT starting at in French (local) time - when will the first riders set off?

Darkglasses

http://grassyknolltv.com/2013/tour-de-france/resources/timetable-04.pdf

15:15 I suppose!

72hundred

Darkglasses wrote: »

http://grassyknolltv.com/2013/tour-de-france/resources/timetable-04.pdf

15:15 I suppose!

Thanks. I wonder is there an reason why this isn't easier to find online.

Reginald P. DuM

So Garmin and Omega? Anyone see a surprise outisde these two? Not that Sky would be a surprise now, they took the Giro TTT after all. BMC? Orica? Very short stage, built for the powerhouses, at 12/1 I give Orica a little more than a sporting chance..

dastardly00

Stage 4, Nice (TTT), 25km

The team time-trial course is 25km in length, it's flat, with long straights and only a few tight corners (9 corners in total). The last time the TTT made an appearance in le Tour was back in 2011. The route that day was of similar length, and that resulted in some teams losing over a minute. So we can expect something similar in this stage.

Team Garmin-Sharp are the favourites for this stage. They won the TTT in the TdF in 2011 (as Garmin-Cervelo), as well as the TTT in the Giro last year. They have the likes of Hesjedal, Talansky, and David Millar who are all very good TT-ers (Dan Martin is actually probably the weakest). They certainly have the talent to win this particular TTT, but almost more importantly, their riders appear to be injury free. That's not the case for the other two big favourites: Sky and OPQS. Team Sky have been suffering from the crashes on Stage 1. Geraint Thomas has a fractured pelvis and Ian Stannard is struggling at the back of the peloton as well. Nonetheless they still have Chris Froome, Richie Porte and Boasson-Hagen. OPQS have some very strong TT-ers like the world TT champion Tony Martin, French TT champion Sylvain Chavanel, Michal Kwiatkowski, Niki Terpstra and Peter Velits. Cav isn't too bad either when it comes to a TTT. However Martin is recovering from a nasty crash on Stage 1 where he ended up with (some sort of) concussion. This is a massive massive blow for OPQS.

There are a good few other teams that will fancy their chances in this TTT. Orica-GreenEdge have Cameron Meyer, Brett Lancaster, Daryl Impey and Svein Tuft who are all good TT-ers. Movistar should put in a decent performance as well as they have Jonathan Castroviejo, Nairo Quintana, and Rui Costa. Saxo-Tinkoff have Contador, Michael Rodgers and Kreuziger so expect them to be around the Top-5. Hopefully for Nico, he will be fourth across the line for them. It'll be interesting to see how Katusha get on. They are normally not great at time-trials, but with Purito spending a lot of time in the wind tunnel recently, there might be a noticeable improvement.

I think Garmin-Sharp will win the stage, with Sky and OPQS filling up the podium. There will be a shake-up in the GC, but none of the big contenders should lose too much time. Still, it will give an indication of what teams are performing well.

Start times (All CET!):
15:15 Argos-Shimano
15:19 Omega Pharma–Quick Step
15:23 Lotto-Belisol
15:27 Cannondale
15:31 Cofidis
15:35 FDJ.fr
15:39 Belkin
15:43 Garmin-Sharp
15:47 Euskaltel-Euskadi
15:51 Sky
15:55 Katusha
15:59 Sojasun
16:03 Astana
16:07 Movistar Team
16:11 Team Saxo-Tikoff
16:15 Europcar
16:19 AG2R La Mondiale
16:23 Orica–GreenEdge
16:27 Lampre-Merida
16:31 Vacansoleil-DCM
16:35 BMC Racing Team
16:39 RadioShack-Leopard






Stage betting: Garmin-Sharp 15/8, OPQS 9/4, Sky 10/3.

Live TV coverage on Eurosport1 from 1.45pm, and ITV4 from 2.30pm.
Highlights on Eurosport1 at 9pm, Eurosport2 at 6pm and 10.30pm, ITV4 at 7pm, and TG4 at 10.30pm.

Live text-ticker will be here.

Darkglasses

Sky will be hamstrung by Geraint Thomas's injuries I imagine. Garmin all day long for me.

Outrageous outside bet..Movistar, go on then.

drdeadlift

Orica 12/1 hmm worth a couple of dollas

Reginald P. DuM

Darkglasses wrote: »

Garmin all day long

2/1 not bad for a sure thing. Yeah, they are the team to beat I agree. Then again I have 0/3 so far in stage predictions. Can't get this right I may give up.

Darkglasses

drdeadlift wrote: »

Orica 12/1 hmm worth a couple of dollas

14/1 on Paddy Power website, even better.

Don't usually bet, but I do think Garmin is free money. I'll throw a euro on Belkin as well, 66/1.

boege

Wondering what happens if DM not able to hang on although a little voice inside my head is saying 'nah'.

Anyone know what time riders get if they are dropped?

Reginald P. DuM

boege wrote: »

Wondering what happens if DM not able to hang on although a little voice inside my head is saying 'nah'.

Anyone know what time riders get if they are dropped?

Ya Dan might struggle at the pace these boys set.

Best of my knowledge every rider gets his own individual time.. So if DM is dropped it will affect his GC time. Open to correction or confirmation there however.

happytramp

Reginald P. DuM wrote: »

Ya Dan might struggle at the pace these boys set.

Best of my knowledge every rider gets his own individual time.. So if DM is dropped it will affect his GC time. Open to correction or confirmation there however.

My guess is that Dan will do very little on the front in an effort to keep him with the group as long as possible. Don't see him making it to the end with them though if they're going for the stage win.

manafana

Nice intro as always dastardly you, are you on twitter too.

Its OPQS for me in this, the names they role off the tongue as some of the best time trial riders in cycling Chavanel, Tony Martin, Kwiatkowski, Terpstra are four of the best, and Velits isnt bad either. Pineau Steegmans and Cavendish also have good power out put for first half of the time trial.

Thomas is big loss for sky might leave them man short in final few km that means longer turns. Garmin are a big danger but im not sure their time trial riders could be OPQS top 3 on their day.

Betting wise im OPQS

godtabh

With Nico behind by 1 second on GC does have a chance at all at yellow today?

TinyExplosions

godtabh wrote: »

With Nico behind by 1 second on GC does have a chance at all at yellow today?

It all depends on Saxo Winning, and who crosses the line first, Contador, Kreuziger, and Rogers are all 1 second down as well as Roche , and I'm not sure how it would pan out if, say Kreuziger won the stage (by finishing first in the TTT), would he go into yellow

Captain Havoc

TinyExplosions wrote: »

It all depends on Saxo Winning, and who crosses the line first, Contador, Kreuziger, and Rogers are all 1 second down as well as Roche , and I'm not sure how it would pan out if, say Kreuziger won the stage (by finishing first in the TTT), would he go into yellow

I thought it wouldn't matter in the TTT, so Nico currently being their top placed rider should put him in yellow bu my reckoning anyway.

MPFG

Captain Havoc wrote: »

I thought it wouldn't matter in the TTT, so Nico currently being their top placed rider should put him in yellow bu my reckoning anyway.

If Saxo win and Nico is in the top 5 then he is the man by my reckoning...

OPQS are the best TT team IMO ....its not just about being good individually but if they can work well together and they always do well as they have talent individual riders

But Saxo have some good TT's as well.....IT helps to keep as many of your riders as possoble as they all provide work and draught......some of the saxo riders are not that strong ( and I don't mean Nico) but you never know with TTT - anything could happen

Good write up Dastardly

MPFG

From the man himself

http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/cycling/nicolas-roche-id-love-to-seize-yellow-in-adopted-home-town-29387517.html

godtabh

Captain Havoc wrote: »

I thought it wouldn't matter in the TTT, so Nico currently being their top placed rider should put him in yellow bu my reckoning anyway.

Thats my (limited) understanding of it as well. Saxo might not be the best TTT team but they have a good shot at putting one of their rides in yellow. Could be a good ploy for them to work for Nico today and get pay back in the mountains later.

godtabh

It only occurred to me now that if we won the team time trial and I led the team over the line, I could go into yellow in my home town. I've always dreamt of winning a stage and even winning the team time trial and getting on the podium would be fabulous.

What Nico himself says about it

Link

MPFG

I hope it happens...for sheer hard work alone he deserves abit of luck...

godtabh

It would be great for him. I also think it would be a master stroke by Saxo as if he get to wear yellow tomorrow I think he would do anything for the team for the rest of the tour.

Inquitus

Unfortunately every one of the big TTT teams has people who can steal yellow, and I can't see Saxo winning, Top 5 at best imo.

dastardly00

manafana wrote: »

Nice intro as always dastardly you, are you on twitter too.

Its OPQS for me in this, the names they role off the tongue as some of the best time trial riders in cycling Chavanel, Tony Martin, Kwiatkowski, Terpstra are four of the best, and Velits isnt bad either. Pineau Steegmans and Cavendish also have good power out put for first half of the time trial.

Thomas is big loss for sky might leave them man short in final few km that means longer turns. Garmin are a big danger but im not sure their time trial riders could be OPQS top 3 on their day.

Betting wise im OPQS

Thanks manafana. Nope I'm not on Twitter (or Facebook either! :eek:), I spend enough of my free time on Boards as it is, if I was on any other social media it would be a disaster
Your column is a very nice read also

MPFG

dastardly00 wrote: »

Thanks manafana. Nope I'm not on Twitter (or Facebook either! :eek:), I spend enough of my free time on Boards as it is, if I was on any other social media it would be a disaster
Your column is a very nice read also

What column is this... is there a link ?????

Columbia

Saxo won't get anywhere near the win today, unfortunately.

dastardly00

MPFG wrote: »

What column is this... is there a link ?????

manafana generally links it in his posts.
http://sbbcolumns.co.uk/tour-de-france-2013-stage-4-team-time-trial-summary-and-betting-preview-nice-nice-25km/

manafana

Inquitus wrote: »

Unfortunately every one of the big TTT teams has people who can steal yellow, and I can't see Saxo winning, Top 5 at best imo.

agree here totally, saxo just dont have fire power of the other teams,cant see them taking this.

manafana

dastardly00 wrote: »

Thanks manafana. Nope I'm not on Twitter (or Facebook either! :eek:), I spend enough of my free time on Boards as it is, if I was on any other social media it would be a disaster
Your column is a very nice read also

thanks, i try keep the betting thoughts off the forums as thats not the main point for here. Have done some content for some websites this year. No issue generating content but my grammar always needs double checking.

Tour of austria going well meanwhile for Astana

Chips Lovell

Wouldn't be too quick to write off Saxo.

All the teams with GC riders will be going full gas for this as its the first opportunity to put time into each other.

Some strong teams like Quick Step and Sky have key men hurt. Saxo have some decent firepower in there with guys like Contador himself, Mick Rogers and Kreuziger.

Brian?

I hate Team Time Trials. Boooooooorrrring.

That is all.

RobFowl

Brian? wrote: »

I hate Team Time Trials. Boooooooorrrring.

That is all.

At least this one is short....

Remember the ones back in the day/ regularly over 80k

Brian?

RobFowl wrote: »

At least this one is short....

Remember the ones back in the day/ regularly over 80k

The only interesting TTT I can remember was the one Roche turned up late for and had to chase his team for the whole thing. Fagor I think.

Edit: it was Ton Tin Tapis.

manafana

Vladimir Kurtains wrote: »

Wouldn't be too quick to write off Saxo.

All the teams with GC riders will be going full gas for this as its the first opportunity to put time into each other.

Some strong teams like Quick Step and Sky have key men hurt. Saxo have some decent firepower in there with guys like Contador himself, Mick Rogers and Kreuziger.

Id wager you a charity bet saxo dont make the top 3?

IM0

should be really interesting how all this settles for the podium and top five. no doubt the TTT itself will be as boring as dishwater though :P

but with practically everyone 1 second off yellow there could be some serious surprises here

ROK ON

I have to disagree with some of the posters regarding how boring this event is.

I have grown to really enjoy TTs and the TTT is a truly poetic event.
I am hopeless at tts but love doing them.

I would love to see an return to the longer team trials within the tour.
Big time gaps can kill a race or they can force pure climbers to attack relentlessly in the hills.

If Martin has recovered the OPQS will be very hard to beat. I think if all teams were fit then man for man they are stringer than Garmin and Sky.
Despite all the talk about Garmin, this years squad is built for the mountains and not the TTs like the past.

Hopefully some intereting time gaps will open up to throw the race wide open. Don't underestimate BMC - some decent testers on that team.

For me
OPQS
Sky
BMC
Don't see Garmin on podium today.

Darkglasses

Sorry, just a word to the OP, that's 15:15 CET, so it starts at 14:15 our time.

uphillonly

Great comment from someone on bikeradar:

I'm looking forward to seeing Chirs Froome shoot off the front with 2 k to go, just "to keep out of trouble" and keep the rest of his team "on their toes".

Beasty

I'll close this one up as we already have a stage specific thread

IM0

Beasty wrote: »

I'll close this one up as we already have a stage specific thread

there was a wtf moment a minute ago with a headscratch and look for another stage 4 thread!

Beasty

Apologies - don't know what I was thinking of - thread re-opened!:o

Captain Havoc

IM0 wrote: »

there was a wtf moment a minute ago

Sorry about the confusion, I was merging the thread at the same time Beasty was closing the TTT time start one.

Craig06

Don't think Garmin will be touched today. Everyone's on great form especially Millar who in his day was untouchable in the TT. All very strong riders at the moment. BMC could be an outside bet as Gilbert wasn't bad in a TT recently. Tony Martin won't be on top form and could damage OPQS chances.

Beasty

Captain Havoc wrote: »

Sorry about the confusion, I was merging the thread at the same time Beasty was closing the TTT time start one.

Thank Christ for that - thought I was cracking up

(... cue for a few wisecracks I guess)

IM0

Beasty wrote: »

Thank Christ for that - thought I was cracking up

(... cue for a few wisecracks I guess)

lol

Darkglasses

Points are very miserly for TTTs on velogames. Gambling will be necessary to make this interesting, unless Saxo go berserk.

REBELSAFC

Darkglasses wrote: »

Points are very miserly for TTTs on velogames. Gambling will be necessary to make this interesting, unless Saxo go berserk.

Steaks for breakfast??;)

Darkglasses

REBELSAFC wrote: »

Steaks for breakfast??;)

Careful now! I meant if they have an epic day then we get Nico in yellow. Stranger things have happened!

dastardly00

We're off and running with Argos-Shimano and OPQS on the course.

manafana

cofidis get a camera but OPQS dont, confused.

Darkglasses

Those Cannondale frames are rotten!