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Stage 4 » Chiavari › La Spezia (150k)
Not the longest stage today, but a tricky one with lots of climbing and technical descents in the hills on mainly narrow roads. The climbing will sap the legs, but if any fast men can be there at the end there is a very good chance of picking up a stage win on a fairly straightforward finish in La Spezia.
We move back along the Ligurian coast to Chiavari for the start of today's stage, which is found between the start and finishing towns of yesterday's stage. Chiavari is a lovely little Ligurian city, well known for its old town. Chiavari has lovely pedestrianised shopping arcades and colonnades, organic markets and the best pastries and focaccia in Italy. The most well known sight is the Santuario di Nostra Signora delle Grazie, a church which can be seen from everywhere in Chiavari sitting as it does on the road above the town. The church has beautiful Renaissance frescoes, a superb glockenspiel and offers stunning views of the coast.
From Chiavari we move East along the coast back through yesterday's fnishing town of Sestri Levante before making a meandering route inland through the Ligurian hills. We then head back through the hills to the coast and follow it South-Eastwards to the finish town of La Spezia and its eponymous Gulf. La Spezia has been a finish town in the Giro 6 times prevously, but not since 1989 when Laurent Fignon won the penultmate stage on his way to Maglia Rosa. There are three categorised climbs in total, all category 3s. The first is the Colla di Velva climb, then the Passo Del Bracco which is 8km long although the average is only 6% it contains 2km at 8%. There are several other climbs that will sap the legs though, and could ensure not all the sprinters are there at the finale. The riders descend out of the hills towards the Gulf of La Spezia, through the Biassa tunnel and onto a 17.1km finishing circuit around La Spezia that includes the last Cat 3 climb.
The final circuit is tricky and intricate at first. The first 4 km go through an urban area and have plenty of sharp turns and road furniture. There is also a slght climb on a cobbled section over 1km long. This will be important because this is during the run-in to the final climb. The Biassa is 3.5km long at just under 5% but the last km is all above 10% and maxes out at 14%. The descent from the Biassa is panoramic and not too technical and ends with 3km to go. The last 3km are flat and straight. There are three right angle turns, the last of which comes with 700m to go as we turn left onto viale Italia. The home straight is an 8m wide asphalt road so there should be no problems sprinting for the stage for anyone that has made it over the Biassa or regained touch on the descent. However, with the crest of the Biassa less than 10km before the end of the stage I would think it would be amazing if all the fast men were to be there at the finsh and we should look to the punchier riders.
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Not the longest stage today, but a tricky one with lots of climbing and technical descents in the hills on mainly narrow roads. The climbing will sap the legs, but if any fast men can be there at the end there is a very good chance of picking up a stage win on a fairly straightforward finish in La Spezia.
We move back along the Ligurian coast to Chiavari for the start of today's stage, which is found between the start and finishing towns of yesterday's stage. Chiavari is a lovely little Ligurian city, well known for its old town. Chiavari has lovely pedestrianised shopping arcades and colonnades, organic markets and the best pastries and focaccia in Italy. The most well known sight is the Santuario di Nostra Signora delle Grazie, a church which can be seen from everywhere in Chiavari sitting as it does on the road above the town. The church has beautiful Renaissance frescoes, a superb glockenspiel and offers stunning views of the coast.
From Chiavari we move East along the coast back through yesterday's fnishing town of Sestri Levante before making a meandering route inland through the Ligurian hills. We then head back through the hills to the coast and follow it South-Eastwards to the finish town of La Spezia and its eponymous Gulf. La Spezia has been a finish town in the Giro 6 times prevously, but not since 1989 when Laurent Fignon won the penultmate stage on his way to Maglia Rosa. There are three categorised climbs in total, all category 3s. The first is the Colla di Velva climb, then the Passo Del Bracco which is 8km long although the average is only 6% it contains 2km at 8%. There are several other climbs that will sap the legs though, and could ensure not all the sprinters are there at the finale. The riders descend out of the hills towards the Gulf of La Spezia, through the Biassa tunnel and onto a 17.1km finishing circuit around La Spezia that includes the last Cat 3 climb.
The final circuit is tricky and intricate at first. The first 4 km go through an urban area and have plenty of sharp turns and road furniture. There is also a slght climb on a cobbled section over 1km long. This will be important because this is during the run-in to the final climb. The Biassa is 3.5km long at just under 5% but the last km is all above 10% and maxes out at 14%. The descent from the Biassa is panoramic and not too technical and ends with 3km to go. The last 3km are flat and straight. There are three right angle turns, the last of which comes with 700m to go as we turn left onto viale Italia. The home straight is an 8m wide asphalt road so there should be no problems sprinting for the stage for anyone that has made it over the Biassa or regained touch on the descent. However, with the crest of the Biassa less than 10km before the end of the stage I would think it would be amazing if all the fast men were to be there at the finsh and we should look to the punchier riders.
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  Beautiful La Spezia is on the Gulf of La Spezia in the East of the Liguria region of Northern Italy and will be the finish town for Stage 4 of the Giro d'Italia. Will it be Bling Matthews who triumphs here today?  |
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This was the stage I thought best fitted Bling when I looked at the parcours beforehand. Surprised to see 6/1 available with Bet £3.65, my biggest bet of the race so far. Bling, win only, 6/1.
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Yes, I had Bling penciled-in for this stage also MC, but seeing as he opened at 7/2 across the boards and is drifting out to 11/2 presently, I'm going to see if he goes out some more.
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Todays stage, stage 4, looks very trappy. Shorter run in today compared to yesterday makes it likely to be a puncher winning it. so many possibilities though. Gilbert and Ulissi were in the break yesterday, so tough to back it up again today. Gerrans and Matthews are both in top 3 in betting, so its a bit of guesswork who will be Orica's no.1 hope. I've took a risk on his form and fitness and took some 150/1 on Betancur, very small stakes. Given Pozzovivo's horror crash AG2R only have stage wins to hunt, so looking for him to show up here with a strong ride
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It is a much shorter run-in today but it should come together to some extent because the descent from the Biassa is rolling and not too technical and the last 3.5km are absolutely pan flat, so any solo final climb attackers will still struggle to stay out. Having said that, the true sprinters will be dropped again because even if they are stil there towards the end there is 1km at 10%+ on the final climb.
If there was any gradient in the finale at all it would make sense to use Gerrans today but there isn't so this is 100% a Matthews stage and in my eyes the only thing that stops him winning is if the break stays out. Orica are just too switched on let that happen though, and they may well get help bringing it back again from the Tinkoff who have been playing virtual leaders. I'm very confident about Matthews today - in my eyes he should be shorter for this stage than he was yesterday as yesterday was a lot more unpredictable. |
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OGE look set to try to dominate the Maglia Rosa in the early stages here and they have strength in depth here not just Matthews. OGE are very much a team and dont mind sharing the jersey around so it would come as no surprise to see the lead switch to Clarke, Gerrans or even Chaves.
AG2R could well look to do something for Pozzivivo today but when you look at the profile and the team there is not much strength in depth there with only Betancur and possibly Dupont who has a top 3 finish in a Vuelta stage to his name as possibilities. Racing Post Paul Charlton puts up no selection today and ishall just watch the stunning scenery and hopefully some exciting racing but i will not be getting involved today. Good luck to all of you with your selections. |
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I think the only thing Ag2r will look to do for Pozzovivo today is send him some chocolates & grapes
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Only concern for me is that if the GC guys boys hammer it on the Biassa climb, which is fairly steep, it could turn into a very small group. I've done Uran 40/1 each way as cover for that scenario. He is probably the fastest finisher of the true climbers.
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Thanks CM for offering your thoughtful opinion even though you're not getting involved at ante-post, much appreciated, as it has inspired me into a potential scenario idea, whereby OGE look to keep the leader's jersey by putting it on the shoulders of the rider who has the best chance to keep it on the next stage.
It's interesting you've picked up on the fact that OGE don't mind to share the jersey around if they can, it's entirely correct, and whilst I had Matthews penciled-in for this stage prior, I don't think he gets to keep it tomorrow and so OGE's best tactical play is to get the jersey onto the shoulders of Chaves with a stage win today. We saw yesterday that he has the strength and cunning to make the breakaway, and whilst OGE scuttled his chances in favour of Matthews' the result showed that it was the best decision. I think Chaves has every chance to hold onto the jersey in tomorrow's stage 5 summit finish into Abetone, and the best way to get him into the jersey is to launch him over the Biassa climb with Gerrans for assistance, and keeping Matthews as a Plan B. I also thought that TCS might want to take their fair share of stage glory after all their hard work yesterday, by giving Mick Rogers freedom to attack on the Biassa climb, and in fact this stage is quite similar to the stage he won in last year's edition of the Giro, stage 11 into Savona, however I don't think that the serious -- we're here to race -- TCS outfit are going to allow him off Contador's leash. Will keep an eye on that IR, nevertheless. Price? In conclusion; Chaves has every chance of holding onto the jersey on tomorrow's stage if he gets into it today, after all, his stage 8 win in the Tour de Suisse confirmed his credentials on summit finish climbs, in fact that climb into Verbier was a lot more difficult than what he will face tomorrow, and I am anticipating OGE launching him with Gerrans and/or possibly Clarke into the Biassa climb today, should the breakaway be brought back by then. If it's an all-out street fight with TCS, with no one up the road prior to the final climb, then Gerrans must be held safely as a Plan B option with Matthews as Plan C if a truce is called prematurely and we get a bunch sprint with no sprinters. But not at ante-post. 1/2* Johan Esteban Chaves Riding well and has the appropriate characteristics to excel on the final Biassa climb. Should be thereabouts. Take on trust. 80/1 PP appears fair value, but ideally would be 150/1. Good luck to all, SP |
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breakaway day... Tinkoff not chasing, what gives?
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Tinkoff now chasing with Kreuziger up the road. Doesn't make sense to me.
Why don't they let Etixx tire their riders by chasing? |
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haha, yeah Kreuziger in the front group, now Tinkoff chase, go figure..
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I hope SP got the betfair price on Chavez. Clarke and Chavez shouldn't contribute to the pace making in the breakaway and could figure on the final climb.
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Now Astana riding.. Que?
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Astana riding now. Interested to see how much they'll reduce the gap by on this climb.
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Wow. Blown apart!
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OK. Now this makes sense on why they are riding.
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Group of GC guys is 5 Astana, 3 Sky,
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5 Astana
3 Sky Bertie & Mick Uran by himself and a handful of others |
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The last climb is real nasty too. I thought we would see gc action on this stage.
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I've picked up a few in the break in Atapuma 50/1, Chaves 75/1 and Cataldo 17/1
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GC could have a f
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GC could have a f
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GC could have a f
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This forum is getting worse for random double and triple posts that seem to occur for no reason halfway through a post.
Anyway, the GC could have a funny look to it tonight. Chaves, Clarke, Cataldo, Kreuziger and others a few minutes ahead of the big big favourites? |
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Gap coming down fast now, under 3 mins back to the 'peloton'
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What an incredible stage this has been
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1'42mins is the gap at the bell
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This break isn't working hard enough and is going to get caught
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Mick gone. Great tactics by Tinkov.
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Aru, Contador & Porte go.
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Laid Formolo here at 1.1, not sure he can hold the group off
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transponders a joke
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It's been an absolute shocker of a stage for my book but one of the most memorable and enjoyable stages I can remember in a long time.
Viva le Giro! |
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Formolo wins, Clarke in pink
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clarke thought he got the win
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Clarkes radio was jammed
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Matthews and Uran the big losers there
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great stage to watch thanks to Astana
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