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

Inquitus · 04-07-2017 9:20am #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 9:28am

Kittel in Vittel.

Inquitus · 04-07-2017 9:28am

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 9:29am

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 9:31am

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 9:40am

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 9:46am

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!