Giro Donne – Stage 4

by Monty. on Jul 6, 2009 1:28 PM EDT Comment 9 comments

The first three proper stages of the Giro will have been exhausting for the riders contesting the GC, and the four hour drive across Italy afterwards won’t have helped either. But finally today they get a chance to relax a bit and let the sprinters have their turn on four laps around the coastal town of Porto S. Elpidio, a town with absolutely none of those distracting cultural features that threaten to come between you and a nice day’s slobbing out on the beach; just sea, sand, a couple of bars and a few nice trees should the heat become too much.

At this point last year, Ina Teutenberg had won all three stages and held both main jersies. This year she still has lots of spare fingers. Columbia’s tactics on these sorts of stages last year were simple: let no breaks get away. Catch, then ease up, catch, then ease up. This could well turn into an unofficial rest day, with lots of piano, slightly above half-assed, riding leading to Teutenberg victory number 1. Lots of part-time riders at the back of the field relieved that they can keep up for once and heal some of the pain. Competition comes from Kirsten Wild, Giorgia Bronzini and Rochelle Gilmore. Young Australian sprinter Chloe Hosking is a possible wild card.

Rai Sport Piu will have half an hour of coverage at 21:00 local time.

The Map

The Profile

0 recs | Comment 9 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Which Columbian will win?

Your power is turning our darkness to dawn,
Roll on Columbia, Roll on!

by Chris... on Jul 6, 2009 2:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

if that's a 215m/6.6km hill

it’s not much but i’d think emma could still get a little clearance each time. The (huge) problem for her is still steep descents afterwards, like this 2km/10%. Thus, i agree this should be pretty much wide open

by agostinho on Jul 6, 2009 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think the GC leaders will bother trying

Emma may be a pretty bad descender, but her main rivals aren’t that much better. Her and Mara Abbott made a first attempt to get away on the descent of Monte Serra yesterday, and they both crashed off the road (Abbott had a large bloody patch on her knee when she finished yesterday). Kristin Armstrong also slid off and put in a big effort on the second climb to limit her losses. In their defence there had been rain earlier in the day and the road was partially shaded by trees, so it didn’t dry everywhere but instead had that lethal wet-for-a-bit dry-for-a-bit surface.

by Monty. on Jul 7, 2009 4:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Which Columbian will win?

Does anyone think that Hincapie will manage to beat Cav across the line in the Tour?

1. Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Team Columbia-HTC Women)
2. Kirsten Wild (Cervélo Test Team) s.t.
3. Monia Baccaille (Michela Fanini Record Rox) s.t.
4. Giorgia Bronzini (Safi-Pasta Zara Titanedi) s.t.
5. Brooke Miller (Elite2/Nazionale USA) s.t.
6. Rochelle Gilmore (Lotto Belisol Ladies Team) s.t.

4 of my picks in the top six ain’t bad going. Let’s see Tourbecco match that. (and Pooley’s still in pink).

by Monty. on Jul 7, 2009 9:29 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Decisive victory?

by Monty. on Jul 7, 2009 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ina is winning everything it seems!! 20th win of the season from memory?? So strong!!

Go Columbia!

Bec*

by Bec on Jul 7, 2009 10:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Your memory is impressive

this place lists 19 (scroll down a very very long way to get to 2009), but there are probably other races it doesn’t notice. It’s getting to the point that you wonder why they bother with sprint finishes, just give the prize to Columbia.

by Monty. on Jul 7, 2009 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Full classifications

available from Cicloweb (click on the qui of “cliccare qui”). A little doziness saw Emma Pooley lose 7 seconds to some of her rivals when the peloton left too big a gap crossing the line. Luckily for her, closest rival Maya Abbott was equally asleep today. The loss will be more costly for Abbott as Claudia Hausler is now only 4 seconds back from her in 3rd place.

by Monty. on Jul 7, 2009 11:31 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

A few piccies

nothing too unexpected today. Emma in her matching helmet:

Katharine Carroll made an early attempt to get away.

The roads were nice, wide and smooth, the weather looked pleasant and refreshing.

The finishing straight was right beside the beach

Teutenberg won comfortably

She was even wearing a brand new jersey. Did they fly them in from Monaco by carrier pigeon?

The current jersey holders. Someone must have told them that silly hats are compulsory at podium ceremonies. And do they really not have any Lotto Belisol stickers to pin to the front of the white jersey? All that sponsorship money for nowt.