Tour de France 2017 stage 4: Mondorf-les-Bains-Vittel 207 km

Inquitus · 04-07-2017 09:20AM #1

Prudhomme's thoughts about the stage:

Passing through Schengen and before returning to French territory, the peloton will have confirmation it can go around freely… Without major difficulties, this stage should offer a second opportunity to the sprinters. Beware however, the roads of Meurthe-et-Moselle could be swept by the wind and that could represent a menace for the title contenders.

Hard to see beyond a bunch sprint and most likely another Kittel victory, no significant crosswinds expected today, so not much to do but watch the countryside roll by listening to the dulcet tones of the Eurosport commentary for 5 odd hours!

Now, have a look at the profile of the stage

And zoom in on the last kilometers..

Weather forecast:

GC after stage 3:

1. Geraint THOMAS
2. Christopher FROOME + 12''
3. Michael MATTHEWS + 12''
4. Peter SAGAN + 13''
5. Edvald BOASSON HAGEN + 16''
6. Pierre Roger LATOUR + 25''
7. Phillipe GILBERT + 30''
8. Michal KWIATKOWSKI + 32''
9. Tim WELLENS + 32''
10. Nikias ARNDT + 34''

Points jersey classification top 5:

Marcel KITTEL 66
Arnaud DEMARE 57
Peter SAGAN 50
Michael MATTHEWS 44
Sonny COLBRELLI 32

pelevin · 04-07-2017 09:28AM

Kittel in Vittel.

Inquitus · 04-07-2017 09:28AM

Marcel Kittel 10/11
Arnaud Demare 17/4
Andre Greipel 6
Mark Cavandish 9
Peter Sagan 11
Dylan Groenewegen 14
Nacer Bouhanni 20
Alexander Kristoff 33
Sonny Colbrelli 33
Michael Matthews 50
Dan Mclay 40
John Degenkolb 125

pelevin · 04-07-2017 09:29AM

Out of interest, anyone know if Sagan got the same points for his stage win yday as Kittel did in the pure sprint stage?

Inquitus · 04-07-2017 09:31AM

pelevin wrote: »

Out of interest, anyone know if Sagan got the same points for his stage win yday as Kittel did in the pure sprint stage?

He got 30 for yesterday as opposed to 50 for Kittel the other day.

pelevin · 04-07-2017 09:40AM

Inquitus wrote: »

He got 30 for yesterday as opposed to 50 for Kittel the other day.

Seems to me wrong to be setting things up a certain way to hinder a rider cos he's so strong if that's the case. If you removed Sagan from the points jersey the last few years, it's not as if it's another all-rounder who'd have been winning it. It'd probably be a pure sprinter every time.

"It's more important to win a flat stage for the points jersey than one with a significant kick." What's the reasoning? Is it specifically meant to be a sprinters' jersey? It's all the more impressive that a guy is able to compete in such different terrain generally in the top 3 to 5 in sprints, & then beating gc & punchy riders like yday.

Decuc500 · 04-07-2017 09:46AM

The question is by how much will Kittel win by? I'm guessing a full bike length.

Taxuser1 · 04-07-2017 10:11AM

Bouhanni is from the area, if he gets to the front a little slower than he did on Sunday he might be thereabouts

Inquitus · 04-07-2017 10:27AM

Taxuser1 wrote: »

Bouhanni is from the area, if he gets to the front a little slower than he did on Sunday he might be thereabouts

Can't see it, he's well down the list of fast men.

Kittel, Cav, Greipel, Demare, Sagan would all expect to beat him comfortably.

Andy Magic · 04-07-2017 10:45AM

it seems an awful long way for a bunch sprint. I hope I'm wrong though

NamelessPhil · 04-07-2017 11:21AM

Jens Voigt is on Eurosport at the moment!

04-07-2017 11:32AM

NamelessPhil wrote: »

Jens Voigt is on Eurosport at the moment!

Great listening to him.

MPFGLB · 04-07-2017 11:36AM

This has long day written all over it....

Working at home...usually have TV on in the back ground but maybe will turn it off today as need to concentrate

Inquitus · 04-07-2017 11:37AM

MPFGLB wrote: »

This has long day written all over it....

Working at home...usually have TV on in the back ground but maybe will turn it off today as need to concentrate

I am WFH as well, have it on in the background, can't see anything happening tbh bar a slow day with one man in the break!

stecleary · 04-07-2017 11:58AM

being a bit of a technical finish it might suit Cav a little. It also suits Sagan

Miklos · 04-07-2017 12:08PM

Sagan could potentially try and make a break if it's crosswindy, he's within in asses roar of yellow.

Somedude9 · 04-07-2017 12:53PM

Zzzz...

C3PO · 04-07-2017 01:05PM

Miklos wrote: »

Sagan could potentially try and make a break if it's crosswindy, he's within in asses roar of yellow.

Not sure it would be worth the effort ... they'd hardly let him go?

MPFGLB · 04-07-2017 01:09PM

Nico Diary

http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/cycling/i-had-to-stick-an-elbow-in-bardet-to-get-through-the-tight-gap-35892361.html

stecleary · 04-07-2017 01:45PM

Glad SK enjoyed his Sangqiuch

neris · 04-07-2017 01:46PM

duno what timezone kellys in but talking about midday lunch at 2:45 french time

neris · 04-07-2017 02:16PM

jeez this is a snoozefest

Somedude9 · 04-07-2017 02:26PM

Jaysus, Kelly positively gushes when paired with Rob Hatch. My favourite pairing btw.

stecleary · 04-07-2017 02:26PM

neris wrote: »

jeez this is a snoozefest

starting to think the decision to show every km of racing was a bad one

neris · 04-07-2017 02:56PM

itv on the cannondale bus with one of the soigneurs going through the post race bags and hes an irish guy.

MPFGLB · 04-07-2017 03:04PM

https://twitter.com/itvcycling/status/882237670491082759

kenmc · 04-07-2017 03:17PM

Went to watch online tg4, but showing basketball, WTF?

kenmc · 04-07-2017 03:19PM

Oh wait. Fu¢kin IP address of company showing as bloody Texas. Geolocked

neris · 04-07-2017 03:25PM

these pro conti teams always go mad to get in the break away, wonder how boring and slow teh racing could be if they got rid of the likes wanty etc

loudymacloud · 04-07-2017 03:53PM

having a sneaky watch of it on the phone in work using TG4 live.

work PC has all such websites blocked :mad:

04-07-2017 03:58PM

Nothing much to see until the sprint today

Tour de France 2017 stage 4: Mondorf-les-Bains-Vittel 207 km

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