Tour Down Under: Stage 4 live updates
Roar Guru By TheSportsFreak, 20 Jan 2012 TheSportsFreak is a Roar Guru & Live Blogger
- Tagged:
- Cycling, GreenEDGE, live blog, Tour Down Under
Welcome to live coverage of Stage 4 of the Tour Down Under. Today we start off in Norwood, just a couple of kilometres outside of Adelaide.
There’s a 8km neutral stage, which is then followed by the official start in Brian Grove. It’s then 130km of riding on the way to the Barossa Valley – no stops for a wine tour – it’s straight off the finish in Tanunda.
Stage 4 has 2 Jayco Sprints. The first is at Kersbrook after 25.3km, followed by the second in Mt Pleasant at 51km. There’s also two climbs as part of the SKODA King of the Mountain.
We start off with a Category 2 climb just five kilometres from the first sprint point in Kersbrook (30.8km) and then a Category 1 climb just 23km from the finish (at 107.4km).
A bunch finish saw German Andre Greipel claim his tenth career stage win at the Tour Down Under, including his second this year (he won Stage 1 on Tuesday).
The peloton yesterday were challenged by a four-man breakawy, but managed to haul them in just after the second sprint point.
Greipel’s win gave him the Ochre jersey for today and holds an eight second lead over Martin Kohler, while young Aussie Michael Matthews is back a further four seconds in third. Simon Gerrans from the GreenEDGE team is back in fifth sixteen seconds back.
The German also holds the lead in the Jayco Sprinters classifications (the sprinters jersey though will be worn by Belarussian Yauheni Hutarovich who is in second), while Thomas de Gendt from the Vacansoleil-DCM team is wearing King of the Mountain jersey today with a 2 point lead.
Don’t forget, any questions, thoughts or comments – send them through. We’ll do our best to keep you up to date. We’ll start live blogging on Stage 4 of the SANTOS Tour Down Under from 1130 AEDST (1100 SA Time)
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The Crowd Says (67) | Page 1 of Comments
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4:36pm
TheSportsFreak said | 4:36pm | Report comment
Alright, that’ll wrap it up for today.
Here’s the good news – the last two stages are live on TV. So have you’re computer, iPhone, iPad or whatever nearby and join the conversation tomorrow as they climb up Willunga Hill – it’ll be outstanding!
We’re on from 1130 AEDT, 1100 SA Time, 1030 Qld, 1000 NT & 0830 WA
4:27pm
TheSportsFreak said | 4:27pm | Report comment
General Classification – After Stage 4
Martin Kohler (Sui) (BMC Racing Team) 15:03:34
Michael Matthews (Aus) (Rabobank) +0:02
Oscar Freire (Esp) (Katusha Team) +0:02
Gerald Ciolek (Ger) (Omega Pharma – Quick Step Cycling Team) +0:06
Simon Gerrans (Aus) (GreenEDGE) +0:08
4:25pm
TheSportsFreak said | 4:25pm | Report comment
We finally have the official results for Stage 4.
Oscar Freire (Esp) (Katusha Team) 1st
Gerald Ciolek (Ger) (Omega Phara – Quick Step Cycling Team) 2nd
Daniele Bennati (Ita) (RadioShack-Nissan) 3rd
Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) (SKY Procycling) 4th
Michael Matthews (Aus) (Rabobank) 5th
Rojas, Roberts, Koren, Lagutin & Haussler rounding out the top 10
4:06pm
TheSportsFreak said | 4:06pm | Report comment
And Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) (SKY Procycling) has the Sprinters jersey tomorrow.
3:54pm
TheSportsFreak said | 3:54pm | Report comment
So, Stage 4 Results…
Oscar Freire (Esp) (Katusha Team) 1st
Daniele Bennati (Ita) (RadioShack-Nissan) 2nd
Gerald Ciolek (Ger) (Omega Pharma – Quick Step Cycling Team) 3rd
Martin Kohler (Ger) (BMC Racing Team) 4th
Jose Joaquin Rojas (Esp) (Movistar) 5th
Martin Kohler is the new race leader and he’ll wear Ochre tomorrow, Rohan Dennis will wear the King of the Mountain jersey tomorrow
3:29pm
TheSportsFreak said | 3:29pm | Report comment
Via Movistar’s Twitter feed
Oscar Freire (Esp) (Katusha Team) 1st
Daniele Bennati (Ita) (RadioShack-Nissan) 2nd
Gerald Ciolek (Ger) (Omega Pharma – Quick Step Cycling Team) 3rd
Unknown 4th
Jose Joaquin Rojas (Esp) (Movistar) 5th.
Still waiting for official confirmation though.
3:36pm
Tristan Rayner said | 3:36pm | Report comment
Might be Mathews in 4th
3:47pm
TheSportsFreak said | 3:47pm | Report comment
Martin Kohler (Ger) (BMC Racing Team) has finished 4th. This means he is in the Ochre jersey tomorrow
3:17pm
TheSportsFreak said | 3:17pm | Report comment
Official word from the TdU officials – There is a technical issue at the finish line. The results may take some time to come through.
Sit tight folks
3:09pm
TheSportsFreak said | 3:09pm | Report comment
Well, we’re going to be playing the waiting game a fair bit I’d say. Once we get the results through, we’ll give them to you. We know Oscar Freire was the eventual winner of Stage 4… other than that, we’re in the dark
3:05pm
TheSportsFreak said | 3:05pm | Report comment
The gap between the leading group and the rest is more than 6-7 minutes! Stuart O’Grady was in there, as too was Andre Greipel. That’s his race officially done for the Tour win. He’ll be looking for a win on Sunday in the criterium I’d say
3:00pm
TheSportsFreak said | 3:00pm | Report comment
There’s about 12 riders who were all chasing for the line there. It could take a while to get the official results
2:59pm
TheSportsFreak said | 2:59pm | Report comment
Oscar Freire was 20 seconds behind Greipel, but only 12 seconds behind Martin Kohler. Depending on where Kohler is could determine if Freire takes the lead
2:57pm
TheSportsFreak said | 2:57pm | Report comment
Here they come!
Tight bunch of 40 riders… and Oscar Freire (Esp) (Katusha Team) who gets the win!
2:56pm
TheSportsFreak said | 2:56pm | Report comment
1km left!
2:55pm
TheSportsFreak said | 2:55pm | Report comment
The rest of the pack sauntering to the finish line. They aren’t pushing
2:55pm
TheSportsFreak said | 2:55pm | Report comment
We know Simon Gerrans is definitely in that leading group. But who else is up there? Boasson Hagen? Michael Matthews? Valverde? Who’ll get the stage win. About 4km left
2:53pm
TheSportsFreak said | 2:53pm | Report comment
BMC Racing Team doing a fair bit of work out the front of the leading pack. They lead by 3:30 with 5km to go.
Is Martin Kohler in that group?
2:47pm
TheSportsFreak said | 2:47pm | Report comment
10km left now and the talk is the group of 40 out front is well and truly gone. The other 80-90 aren’t working that hard to chase these guys down.
The gap is 2:30
2:44pm
TheSportsFreak said | 2:44pm | Report comment
14km left to go. No Andre Greipel… looks like he’s out of it already. He did predict it yesterday.
The leading group of 40 riders now 1:10 ahead. Whoever wins this stage will just about lead the event
2:41pm
TheSportsFreak said | 2:41pm | Report comment
15kms to go in the race
2:38pm
TheSportsFreak said | 2:38pm | Report comment
Lead group of 40 riders now have a 52 second lead on the rest of the field as they go downhill to Angaston before hitting Tanunda at around 1435 SA time (1505 AEDT)
2:33pm
TheSportsFreak said | 2:33pm | Report comment
Andre Greipel is probably 30-45 seconds behind the leader in Rohan Dennis.
The lead group itself is totalling around 40 riders. But lots of Lotto-Belisol riders out the back.
2:31pm
TheSportsFreak said | 2:31pm | Report comment
UniSA Australia doing their best to get the KOM jersey. Rohan Dennis grabs the KOM Category 1 climb! Rider from Movistar was 2nd, Simon Gerrans in 3rd.
2:30pm
TheSportsFreak said | 2:30pm | Report comment
Rohan Dennis (Aus) (UniSA Australia) had a great Stage 1. He’s starting to make an attack up the hill…
2:28pm
TheSportsFreak said | 2:28pm | Report comment
The peloton is on its way, closing in on the top of Menglers Hill. Around 1km to go.
2:27pm
TheSportsFreak said | 2:27pm | Report comment
The peloton has just have around 2km left until the summit of Menglers Hill as they’re stretched out the length of the Morphettville home straight.
There’s some riders losing touch as Movistar make a charge out front. Alejandro Valverde nearby…?
2:23pm
TheSportsFreak said | 2:23pm | Report comment
We’re all back together. The three riders who have been out front for about 75km have now been caught at the 101km mark. 6.5km until the top of Menglers Hill
2:18pm
TheSportsFreak said | 2:18pm | Report comment
Now the gap has reduced to 60 seconds. It had gone out to 1:20, but the peloton will just about have the trio in their sights now. We’ve got a ripping climb up Menglers Hill on the way
2:09pm
TheSportsFreak said | 2:09pm | Report comment
Just a recap. We had a few mini attacks throughout the first 25km, but the leading three [Jay McCarthy (Aus) (UniSA Australia), Ruben Perez (Esp) (Euskaltel – Euskadi) and Blel Kadri (Fra) (Ag2r La Mondiale)] managed to get away just on the point of the 1st KOM. They had the gap out around 4:00, but that’s been gradually scaled back over the last 50km. The peloton not panicking – there’s no need – there’s plenty of racing still to come including the quite possibly important climb up Menglers Hill.
The lead for the trio is nearly 1:15 now at around 93km
2:02pm
TheSportsFreak said | 2:02pm | Report comment
We’re down to 1:15 with about 86km down. The riders are probably about 5-10 minutes behind the estimated arrival time in Tanunda.
1:55pm
TheSportsFreak said | 1:55pm | Report comment
The peloton is starting to close in now… 1:35 is the gap at with 48km to go
1:49pm
TheSportsFreak said | 1:49pm | Report comment
In reality, it’s a bit of a lull period at the moment, and might be like this for the next 20 minutes. There might be a slight pulling back from the peloton, but they should start really pulling the front trio back in the last 10kms
1:48pm
TheSportsFreak said | 1:48pm | Report comment
The gap is still around the 2:10 mark at the 75km mark. The peloton is happy to keep the front three out front to do most of the work at the moment with the 2nd KOM point still 32km away. Lotto-Belisol, Garmin-Barracuda and Equipe Cyclist FDJ – Big Mat leading up front of the peloton
1:33pm
TheSportsFreak said | 1:33pm | Report comment
We’re at the halfway point of the stage – 65km down, 65km to go.
Our leading three have a lead of about 2:20.
The leading trio are Jay McCarthy (Aus) (UniSA Australia), Ruben Perez (Esp) (Euskaltel – Euskadi) and Blel Kadri (Fra) (Ag2r La Mondiale)
1:28pm
TheSportsFreak said | 1:28pm | Report comment
For those that haven’t been to the Barossa Valley, make it near the top of your travelling bucket list – beautiful region.
The finishing town, Tanunda, is in the heart of the Valley. The local wine from a particular Chateau (look it up) is worth a pour into your very wide red-wine glass too…
1:21pm
TheSportsFreak said | 1:21pm | Report comment
At 58km the gap between the front three and the peloton is now 2:40
1:15pm
TheSportsFreak said | 1:15pm | Report comment
Here come the results from the 2nd sprint today…
Jayco Sprint #2
Ruben Perez (Esp) (Euskaltel – Euskadi) 1st
Blel Kadri (Fra) (Ag2r La Mondiale) 2nd
Jay McCarthy (Aus) (UniSA Australia) 3rd
1:13pm
TheSportsFreak said | 1:13pm | Report comment
The gap now back to 3:20… the peloton, being led by Lotto-Belisol, probably wanting to catch up to the front three well before they get to the Category 1 climb at Menglers Hill (that’s still a good 55km away)
We’re still waiting for the Jayco Sprint #2 results to come through (should have come through about 5 minutes ago)
1:04pm
TheSportsFreak said | 1:04pm | Report comment
The riders now just approaching 4km away from Jayco Sprint #2. The lead still around the 4:30 mark
12:53pm
TheSportsFreak said | 12:53pm | Report comment
The leading three now get the lead out around the four minute mark at 41km. They’re 10km away from the second sprint point at Mt Pleasant
Jay McCarthy (Aus) (UniSA Australia), Ruben Perez (Esp) (Euskaltel – Euskadi), Blel Kadri (Fra) (Ag2r La Mondiale)
12:46pm
TheSportsFreak said | 12:46pm | Report comment
At 36km, the leading three now 1:50 ahead
12:44pm
TheSportsFreak said | 12:44pm | Report comment
It seems Gatis Smukulis has been dropped from the breakaway. It’s now 3 at the front and they lead by 40 seconds on the peloton.
Jay McCarthy (Aus) (UniSA Australia)
Ruben Perez (Esp) (Euskaltel – Euskadi)
Blel Kadri (Fra) (Ag2r La Mondiale)
The riders on their way to Mt Pleasant for Jayco Sprint #2. They should arrive in the next 15-20 minutes
12:38pm
TheSportsFreak said | 12:38pm | Report comment
Those four have gone through the SKODA King of the Mountain checkpoint 15 seconds ahead of the peloton. We’re about to get the results…
Jay McCarthy (Aus) (UniSA Australia) 1st (10pts)
Ruben Perez (Esp) (Euskaltel – Euskadi) 2nd (6pts)
Blel Kadri (Fra) (Ag2r La Mondiale) 3rd (4pts)
Gatis Smukulis (Lat) (Katusha Team) 4th (2pts)
12:34pm
TheSportsFreak said | 12:34pm | Report comment
Three riders now attack as they close in on the 1st King of the Mountain finishes of the day.
Gatis Smukulis (Lat) (Katusha Team), Ruben Perez (Esp) (Euskaltel – Euskadi) and Jay McCarthy (Aus) (UniSA Australia). Blel Kadri (Fra) (Ag2r La Mondiale) is on the attack as well. He’s 21 seconds behind these three, while the leading trio has a lead of about 40 seconds on the peloton
12:27pm
TheSportsFreak said | 12:27pm | Report comment
Good news for Andre Greipel… he claims the first Jayco Sprint of the day. That will put him now 11s ahead of Martin Kohler
Michael Matthews (Aus) (Rabobank) finished in 2nd, Jose Joaquin Rojas (Esp) (Movistar) in 3rd
12:25pm
TheSportsFreak said | 12:25pm | Report comment
But now at 24km, the peloton reels them back in.
12:20pm
TheSportsFreak said | 12:20pm | Report comment
The riders going through Chain of Ponds now (20km in)
Sandy Casar (Fra) (Equipe Cycliste FDJ – Big Mat), Mattéo Montaguti (Ita) (Ag2r La Mondiale) and Adrián Sae’z de Arregui (Esp) (Euskaltel – Euskadi) make another attempted break from the peloton
12:20pm
Luke said | 12:20pm | Report comment
Thanks for the constant updates, love this site, by far the best going round for up-to-date info on the tour. Should be a ripper day today, goodluck to the Aussie boys
12:15pm
TheSportsFreak said | 12:15pm | Report comment
A fairly important question asked from the Vacansoleil-DCM team manager Michel Cornelisse – Is the TdU too easy? It’s a fair question when you realise there’s no massive climbs – but then again, the terrain outside of Adelaide doesn’t quite lend itself to mountainous areas. You can read more about that from Felix Lowe’s article on that here – http://www.theroar.com.au/2012/01/20/is-the-tour-down-under-too-easy/
12:11pm
TheSportsFreak said | 12:11pm | Report comment
But at 13km, the peloton catches up. The gap was only around 10-15 seconds.
12:08pm
TheSportsFreak said | 12:08pm | Report comment
The ride up Anstey Hill has been brutal for some… up to 25 riders off the peloton’s pace.
Maxim Belkov now about to be joined by a rider from Lampre-ISD and GreenEDGE
12:06pm
TheSportsFreak said | 12:06pm | Report comment
Now Maxim Belkov (Rus) (Katusha Team) goes on the attack. There’s been a fair bit of action from Katusha this morning. Reckon they’re building for something later today from Oscar Freire
12:05pm
TheSportsFreak said | 12:05pm | Report comment
It’s been a mighty quick start, thanks to the peloton chasing down that breakaway. There’s already a few riders struggling early, falling off the pace, including Stage 2 winner Will Clarke (Aus) (UniSA Australia). We’re 8km in
12:03pm
TheSportsFreak said | 12:03pm | Report comment
Romain Sicard (Fra) (Euskaltel – Euskadi) now joining the breakaway… but Paolini gets dropped. So we’re still with three out the front, but they’re being chased down… and the peloton have them. Everyone back together now.
11:59am
TheSportsFreak said | 11:59am | Report comment
Omega Pharma Quickstep driving the peloton forward… but one of their riders Julien Vermote (Bel) (Omega Pharma Quickstep) now breaks away from the group and joins Luca Paolini (Ita) (Katusha Team) and Lachlan Norris (Aus) (UniSA Australia)
11:56am
TheSportsFreak said | 11:56am | Report comment
Romain Lemarchand (Fra) (Ag2r La Mondiale) and William Clarke (Aus) (UniSA Australia) were on the attack as well… they’ve been claimed by the peloton as well.
11:53am
TheSportsFreak said | 11:53am | Report comment
A few more attacks coming from about 7 riders. But they’ve been claimed very quickly. Norris/Paolini have a lead of about 200m
11:50am
TheSportsFreak said | 11:50am | Report comment
An early attack made from the very start… Luca Paolini (Ita) (Katusha Team) and Lachlan Norris (Aus) (UniSA Australia)
11:49am
TheSportsFreak said | 11:49am | Report comment
The race is now underway – the red flag has dropped. 130km to go for the 130 riders.
For those wondering (because these questions always pop up), the Lanterne Rouge (last rider in the classifications) at the moment is Boris Shpilevsky (Rus) (Ag2r La Mondiale) some 23 minutes behind our race leader Andre Greipel
11:44am
TheSportsFreak said | 11:44am | Report comment
We’re hearing that the team’s could see some big moves today and try to take Old Willunga Hill out of the equation. Well, the Category 1 climb (which involves big points) is 22km from the end. If someone makes a move, could it happen just before they reach the peak?
11:40am
TheSportsFreak said | 11:40am | Report comment
We’re told the ETA is around 1430 SA time (1500 AEDT).
Jayco Sprint #1 approx 1155 SA time (1225 AEDT)
SKODA King of the Mountain #1 approx 1205 SA time (1235 AEDT)
Jayco Sprint #2 approx 1230 SA time (1300 AEDT)
SKODA King of the Mountain #2 approx 1400 SA time (1430 AEDT)
11:33am
TheSportsFreak said | 11:33am | Report comment
According to cycling expert and commentary legend Phil Liggett on Stage 4…
“The pure sprinters like Greipel won’t be there at the finish today but the other sprinters in the style of Simon Gerrans, could show their colours”.
11:31am
TheSportsFreak said | 11:31am | Report comment
And away we go in the neutral stage… 8km then we get into the nitty-gritty
11:31am
TheSportsFreak said | 11:31am | Report comment
There’s two climbs today, which means there’s a chance there’ll be some movement amongst those going for the SKODA KOM classifications. But, the big day is tomorrow when they go up Old Willunga Hill
11:27am
TheSportsFreak said | 11:27am | Report comment
A warmish day on the way – expected to get up to about 32° today in Nuriootpa (right near Tanunda). But a coolish start for the riders – right now in Adelaide it’s about 25°.
The first 8km today of the race proper is uphill as they go up Anstey Hill, but the first of the KOM points is 20+ kilometres away from there.
11:21am
TheSportsFreak said | 11:21am | Report comment
Good morning folks. We’re about 10 minutes away from the rolling start of Stage 4 of the Tour Down Under. We’re going from Norwood to Tanunda, although the first 8km will be a neutral start – we don’t get really started until they reach Paradise (yes, seriously the suburb’s called Paradise)