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.
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?
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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 sta
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.
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 t
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.
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 clim
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
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 o
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.
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.
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?
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
Well, at least I wasn't the only one to underestimate this stage -- it just shows that over the feral ground of Italy, on a hot day, through the climbing of a Medium Mountain stage of only 150kms, if the pace is driven hard by the GC teams, what appeared like an easy stage on paper becomes a stage as tough and absorbing as any High Mountain stage with a summit finish.
I believe EQS started all that combat off, which was a little strange since Uran wasn't going that well and Boonen would struggle over the final climb. Nevertheless, it wasn't long before other teams became involved, worried about the calibre of riders in the breakaway and the significant virtual leaders, they began to work on the front before AST got serious and began drilling the speed and making devastating ground. I think all this suggested that even these teams underestimated the stage, and perhaps the categorization of those climbs. (And the climbs in the Giro generally appear to be under-categorized, perhaps.) However, once they were committed and realizing the slow-drip selection which was occurring there was no stopping it -- it had become its own monster, so to speak. Yes, Kreuziger was in the breakaway and TCS were on the front working, but that just showed that TCS have more faith in Contador than they did in Kreuziger winning the stage, simple as that. It showed that what's more important to them is the Giro win for Bertie, not a gamble on Kreuziger in a large breakaway early race stage. Especially, since it's likely that the scouts rang through and said that this can be a tough-enough stage to cause what we saw eventuate. These teams are here to race and that's exactly what they're doing -- what's interesting is who of them are using up their matches the most so early on, and what effect will that have in week three?
Can only echo the feelings of the previous comments -- this is what cycling is all about, this is why it's one of the best sports to watch, and in historical terms this is the, what I would describe, as the "Giro Flavour". I love it!
OGE didn't do much wrong I don't think, Clarke is in the leader's jersey and that's what they would've wanted in sending him and Chaves into the breakaway, clearly they didn't need to win the stage for that to happen, and both tried hard for the team -- they were just beaten by a stronger rider on his day. Obviously Matthews and Gerrans were never going to be in it with such a turn of speed by the peloton in selection mode. One of the hardest things to get right at ante-post is essentially who will feel strong all day or strongest when it matters? Formolo showed throughout the stage how strong he was, but to do what he did was quite amazing, and I didn't think he could do it with the selective peloton was closing in, simply because I thought it was a mistake for Formolo to have attacked the breakaway on the flat before the final climb.
Good try to lay him MC, sometimes such cheap lays can really pay off, but this kid is good and was brilliant today!
Cheers, SP
Well, at least I wasn't the only one to underestimate this stage -- it just shows that over the feral ground of Italy, on a hot day, through the climbing of a Medium Mountain stage of only 150kms, if the pace is driven hard by the GC teams, what appe
One more thing in postscript to nugget -- missed the big biscuits for Chaves on here, sadly. Was away for most of the day, UK night time, so was a little stretched before finally settling down for the midnight feast of cycling. SP
One more thing in postscript to nugget -- missed the big biscuits for Chaves on here, sadly. Was away for most of the day, UK night time, so was a little stretched before finally settling down for the midnight feast of cycling. SP
500's on here, on face value I thought it was a little weak from him. He had beaten Formolo in a mountain top finish last year and should of been able to follow. Maybe he didn't want to take the chance away from Clarke to get the maglia pink. Anyway he will get his chance tomorrow, if he can follow the big guys he might be the fourth OGE rider to wear the pink in the first 5 stages.
500's on here, on face value I thought it was a little weak from him. He had beaten Formolo in a mountain top finish last year and should of been able to follow. Maybe he didn't want to take the chance away from Clarke to get the maglia pink. Anywa