Stage
4:
163.5k, mostly flat,
from Le Touquet-Paris-Plage on the English Channel Coast, south of Calais,
Eastward and inland to Lille, just south of Roubaix, near the Belgian border.
Just two small category-4 climbs on the way.
Weather: Clear and
sunny, mid 60s f.
DNS: Andy Schleck
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| Stage 4 race route to Lille |
Expect another
bunch sprint finish today. The riders have left Britain and made the transfer
over to the mainland. Some had an easier transfer than others, as Marcel Kittel
had his precious hair gel confiscated by officials at the border. Will it
affect his chance to win a third sprint today? We shall see...
Andrei Greipel's
Lotto Belisol team has been struggling to put their sprint leader in a good
position to contest the finish sprints. Maybe they can find the right formula
today. Young French Team Europcar sprinter Brian Coquard has been very
competitive in the sprints. He will be looking for his first stage win in his
home race today, too.
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| Stage 4 Profile |
Alexander Kristoff
of Katusha will also be looking to prove his mettle today. He had some harsh
words for Mark Cavendish after the Manxman's dramatic stage-one finale crash,
calling the move intentional, and suggesting that punitive action be taken
against the Omega Pharma sprinter. Cav was the only rider injured in the wreck;
he suffered a separated shoulder and torn ligaments and was forced to abandon
the race, so I would think that any lesson to be learned from the
overly-aggressive action has already taken effect.
Then, of course,
there is Peter Sagan. Maybe the Slovakian road race champion can get Kittel's
number today and register his first stage win of this 101st edition of Le Grande Boucle.
My pick
today: the obvious choice is Marcel Kittel. My "longshot" pick will
be Andrei Greipel.
I will post
today's results after the race finishes in Lille later.
Enjoy the
racing!
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