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

MPFGLB

So to the first real GC test of this Vuelta




And the final climb



I expect to see Dan Martin in the break...this stage suits him

Would suit Nicolas Roche as not unlike the stage he won in in 2013 for distance and elevation but he is riding into form so may not be top yet

I think the breakway will take it and it will probably be Dan Martin or Dylan Teuns

Suits them both but why did Dan loose so much time today? To be allowed go or because of some issue?

dastardly00

Deleted User wrote: »

Suits them both but why did Dan loose so much time today? To be allowed go or because of some issue?

This tweet probably answers your question... (click on the photo)


https://twitter.com/DanMartin86/status/1034125386509103105

EC1000

dastardly00 wrote: »

This tweet probably answers your question... (click on the photo)


https://twitter.com/DanMartin86/status/1034125386509103105

That's from his crash at the Tour.

neris

pierre rolland getting some amount of gels out of the car and comisare car right behind aswell

MPFGLB

Just put this here

https://www.wielerflits.nl/nieuws/zijn-dombrowski-en-roche-de-versterkingen-bij-sunweb/

dastardly00

EC1000 wrote: »

That's from his crash at the Tour.

I know.

But that tweet (and photo) are from yesterday. He's still recovering from the crash, hence his poor performance.

dastardly00

MPFGLB wrote: »

Just put this here

https://www.wielerflits.nl/nieuws/zijn-dombrowski-en-roche-de-versterkingen-bij-sunweb/

As you alluded to before, Roche would be a good replacement for Geschke

Macy0161

dastardly00 wrote: »

As you alluded to before, Roche would be a good replacement for Geschke

It's a great move for Roche, but this is now essentially his last GT GC ride, between Tommy D, Kelderman and Oomen no opportunities there.

Ben King could be in red here by the end of the day if Sky don't get a move on.

MPFGLB

Macy0161 wrote: »

It's a great move for Roche, but this is now essentially his last GT GC ride, between Tommy D, Kelderman and Oomen no opportunities there.

Yes...but age is the most pertinent factor

But with cycling you never know how races pan out..so he may get an opportunity in one day races or smaller races

He will be a good road captain for Dumoulin and certainly knows how SKY ride...remember how he said on ES during the last Tour mountain stage how SKY were trying to get Dumoulin to chase Roglic to save Froome's podium...which Dumoulin did

Boscoirl

looks like sky are happy to let the jersey go

but the breakaway look they are going ruin it for themselves

MPFGLB

SKY major trolling today

Oh as an FYI I checked eurosport player with a VPN and there is an Ad Free feed there in other places but soon as you log in it switches to content from your region. Looks like someone forgot to flick a switch for us. I contacted them via the web site for what ever it's worth.

neris

Kirby saying someone got a €1000 fine for getting a bottle inside 5km on day 2 pr 3

Boscoirl

FFS Lotto!! stop pulling them back

I'm guessing thats Aru and not Dan in the main group, couldn't get a good look there.

neris

the astana lad really needs to burn king off. kings do sweet f a

neris

though would like to see kings take red, fed up of sky leading GTs

Yates making moves.

eagle eye

Fantastic ride by Ben King there. He did a lit of the work up the last climb and still had the Sprint to win it.

cunavalos

Roche finished just over 5 minutes back and Dan lost a further 14 minutes on the day.
What odds the two cousins duking it out from the breakaway in either the 2nd or 3rd week

neris

cunavalos wrote: »

Roche finished just over 5 minutes back and Dan lost a further 14 minutes on the day.
What odds the two cousins duking it out from the breakaway in either the 2nd or 3rd week

id say unless dan brings Nico home the only thing these 2 will be duking it out in during weeks 2 & 3 is a nappy changing contest

MPFGLB

cunavalos wrote: »

Roche finished just over 5 minutes back and Dan lost a further 14 minutes on the day.
What odds the two cousins duking it out from the breakaway in either the 2nd or 3rd week

Nico is over 2 minutes down on GC ....He lost over 2 minutes to Yates not 5 minutes ...
I think Nico (with his new approach to ride into form) still hopes for a top 10 . If he goes further backwards by next week he will probably abandon that and ride for stages

Dan will need to go for his stage sooner rather than later as may not be in race in week 2/3 if his wife gives birth

MPFGLB

https://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/cycling/vuelta-a-espana-diary-yuri-was-sitting-in-a-wheelchair-waiting-to-go-home-his-race-over-37258819.html

dastardly00

This was Dimension Data's first World Tour win of 2018... very much needed, they've had a poor season

dastardly00

dastardly00 wrote: »

This was Dimension Data's first World Tour win of 2018... very much needed, they've had a poor season

It gets worse with news this morning Cavendish is off the bike with another virus. The guy has had a rotten run of crashes and illness. No sooner is he recovered and back racing he's off again.

MPFGLB

Saw a tweet linking UAE with Eddy Dunbar