Tour Down Under 2013 stage four: Live updates, blog

25th January, 2013

Is the Tour Down Under Geraint Thomas’s race to lose? Or someone else’s to win? Join us for live updates from the Tour Down Under Stage 4 from 11am (local – 11:30am AEDT).

The Welshman’s victory on stage two of the Tour Down Under was commanding and though he couldn’t repeat that win on stage three (won in brilliant style by the young Tom-Jelte Slagter of Team Blanco), he wasn’t far off the pace.

It’s hard to see where he will lose time, though win bonuses could hold the key to the whole race.

Stage four is a 126.5km jaunt from Modbury to Tanunda, with quite a tough climb, Kersbrook, coming at about the 30km mark.

It’s a little too early in the stage for fireworks though, and we should be treated to another long breakaway that Sky will be happy to let sit a few minutes ahead of the pack for most of the day.

It should be a very fast finish and could be a little testy, as there are three 90 degree turns towards the end. Expect a group finish and a galloping, oft-spotted German Gorilla to loom on your TV screens. Andre will be hoping to ‘Greipel’ his peers into submission once again, no doubt.

Could an Aussie sneak the win here? It’s possible, but the Lotto-Belisol leader and his New Zealand teammate Greg Henderson will have to have an off day.

Of course, the break could be harmless enough that Sky allow them to grab an unassailable lead, but Orica-GreenEDGE and Lotto will probably not be in the mood for dilly dallying.

On yer marks….!

The Crowd Says:

AUTHOR

2013-01-25T03:45:13+00:00

Lee Rodgers

Expert

Well, that was an interesting stage, it had a lot of talking points, we are all set up for a corker In Adelaide, stay tuned right here on The Roar for more from the Tour Down Under! Thanks for joining us!

AUTHOR

2013-01-25T03:43:29+00:00

Lee Rodgers

Expert

My mistake, getting old! Stage result is: 1st: Andre Greipel (Lotto-Belisol) 2nd: Roberto Ferrari (Lampre) 3rd. Jonathan Cantwell (TST)

AUTHOR

2013-01-25T03:41:12+00:00

Lee Rodgers

Expert

Looks like that, still, mad to have cars there in a WorldTour race.

AUTHOR

2013-01-25T03:40:35+00:00

Lee Rodgers

Expert

Absolutely. Nuts.

2013-01-25T03:40:30+00:00

Bones506

Roar Guru

Riders caused the crash - not cars. Wheels clipped

AUTHOR

2013-01-25T03:40:11+00:00

Lee Rodgers

Expert

Well that was fun. There'll be no change in the GC, with Geraint Thomas still retaining the lead over Slagter. Greipel though has smashed McEwen's record number of wins, and McEwen says he's quite happy it;s gone to a rider like the German. Should be a great battle between him and Cav this season.

2013-01-25T03:38:43+00:00

Bones506

Roar Guru

Impey is the OGE rider down. Why are there cars on the ride in the final 5km! so dangerous

AUTHOR

2013-01-25T03:38:14+00:00

Lee Rodgers

Expert

WHAT were those cars doing on the finishing straight? Madness. One OGE guys is really down, looks not too good for him. Hope he is ok.

2013-01-25T03:37:46+00:00

bielas

Guest