The Giro d’Italia resumes after the first rest day back on Italian soil with a 112 kilometres stage from Giovinazzo to Bari. Join The Roar for live updates and discussion of all the race action on from 10:30pm (AEST).
Given the short nature of the parcours, Stage 4 could almost be considered a second rest day for the General Classification contenders. However, with the glory of a stage victory up for grabs there will be no rest for the teams of the sprinters and the ever hopeful breakaway.
The rather featureless stage includes just one intermediate sprint, making brand recognition for their sponsors the primary goal of a breakaway. As the teams of the sprinters are unlikely to throw away this opportunity to claim the prestige and press that follows a stage victory.
Excluding the comparatively short cycle from Giovinazzo to the streets of Bari, Stage 4 is essential a circuit race consisting of eight laps of 8.3 kilometres. With three tight 90-degree turns and a sweeping 90-degree bend within two kilometres of the finishing line set to test the alertness of the peloton.
Winning the battle for position at the fore of a stretched out peloton will be more important than ever with the sweeping 90-degree bend in to our finishing straight coming under 500 metres from the finishing line. However, the eight metre wide Corso Vittorio Emanuele II should provide room to manoeuvre for those sprinting from an suboptimal position.
Despite leaving Ireland and heading to the south of Italy the weather does not appear like it will improve for the cyclists, with current weather forecasts predicting a 70% chance of precipitation. Which will only increase the difficulty of the circuit through the streets of Bari, quite possibly exponentially increasing the chances of heartbreak and drama within the final two kilometres.
While Giant Shimano’s lead out for Marcel Kittel has yet to properly click just yet, the German still remains the favourite to emerge victorious in Bari. There could be an opportunity for the hulking German’s rivals to upstage him if they can manage to sufficiently out position him approaching the dash for the line.
The final 350 metres are slightly uphill, which may offer the slightest of advantages to the likes of Ben Swift of Sky Pro Cycling. However, in the grand scheme of things it is impossible to look past Kittel for the stage victory – but you know what they say about betting on a sure thing.
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Join The Roar and myself tomorrow for live coverage of Stage 5 of the 2014 Giro d'Italia as the race hits the first of its five medium mountain stages. Meanwhile keep it tuned to The Roar for more opinion and analysis of both the Giro d'Italia and the cycling season as a whole.
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
So what almost became a definite second rest day for the peloton saw some late drama as Nacer Bouhanni overcame his late bad luck to claim victory in Stage 4 of the 2014 Giro d'Italia ahead of Giacomo Nizzolo and Tom Veelers in an incident packed finale. Tomorrow's fifth stage, with yet another forecast for rain, sees the peloton ride 203 kilometres from Taranto to our summit finish of Viggiano.
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Stage 4 - Provisional General Classification Top 10: #1. Michael Matthews (OGE) #2. Alessandro Petacchi (OPQ) +8" #3. Daniel Oss (BMC) +10" #4. Ivan Santaromita (OGE) +14" #5. Luke Durbridge (OGE) +14" #6. Svein Tuft (OGE) +14" #7. Pieter Weening (OGE) +14" #8. Rigoberto Uran (OPQ) +19" #9. Pieter Serry (OPQ) +19" #10. Serge Pauwels (OPQ) +19"
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Should be no change in the General Classification given everything, however, I'll sum up the Top 10 anyway.
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Stage 4 - Provisional Top 10: #1. Nacer Bouhanni of FDJ #2. Giacomo Nizzolo of Trek Factory Racing #3. Tom Veelers of Giant Shimano #4. Roberto Ferrari of Lampre Merida #5. Elia Viviani of Team Cannondale #6. Matteo Montaguti of AG2R Le Mondiale #7. Kenny De Haes of Lotto Belisol #8. Luka Mezgec of Giant Shimano #9. Bert De Backer of Giant Shimano #10. Francesco Chicchi of Neri Sottoli (Yellow Fluo)
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Michael Matthews of Orica GreenEDGE retains the Maglia Rosa (Pink Jersey), though he looks like he just finished riding Pairs Roubaix with all that dirt.
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
A very odd stage. Viviani even manged to get back to finish within the Top 10.
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Admendment: Luka Mezgec reportedly dropped his chain and it was Tom Veelers who came third for Giant Shimano.
jasonkohlmorgen
Roar Guru
What an odd stage! Thanks for bringing us the action Matt.
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Nacer Bouhanni wins Stage 4 of the 2014 Giro d'Italia ahead of Giacomo Nizzollo and Luka Mezgec.
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Bouhanni goes up the inside and wins!
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
250m to go and Giant Shimano have launched!
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
500m to go and Bouhanni is third wheel!
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Alternate sources suggesting it is not Trek's Nizollo but another rider. Nacer Bouhanni is there!
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Giant Shimano taking it careful around the corners with a bit of a gap to make sure they can set up Luka Mezgec.
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
They are going down like nine pins with Giant Shimano on front for Luka Mezgec, with Roberto Farrari and Nizzolo behind them.
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
A CRASH! We have had a crash on due to the road surface with a second crash also up the road. Elia Viviani is GONE!
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Under two kilometres to go and Cannondale still in pole position for Elia Viviani.
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
2.5 kilometres remaining and there was almost a touch of wheels there in the race to the line!