Matt White's Giro d'Italia Stage 4 Preview:
Tuesday, May 14, 2019
235km Orbetello - Frascati
This is the first little test for the GC boys since the opening time trial. It’s another long stage of 235km and that’s even further than the first version of the stage that was included in the initial road book because the organisers have changed the last 35km. When you came into Rome on the original course you almost hugged the outskirts of the city but now they’ve brought the race a little further out before the run-in. The finish line has moved one kilometre further up the road from when I first looked at it and it’s a little uphill finish. A bit like the opening time trial, we’ll see who has come into the race on hot form and who is still lacking that little bit of punch. The finale is undulating with a few ramps on the final climb but what you also have to remember is that this stage is 235km and that’s a solid day in the saddle. If Valverde was here then this would have been a perfect stage for him but it’s also a stage for anyone who has a bit of a kick in their legs after a long day. We could see the first change in the maglia rosa.
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'We don't have to pull the breakaway back, we just have to keep me in front' – Jay Vine heads into Tour Down Under finale with enviable lead, even after difficult day for team
Heavy crashes for defending champion Jhonatan Narváez and Vegard Stake Laengen mean Australian sits in the box seat with 'mixed feelings' -
NSN overcomes crash losses to make most of extra Tour Down Under sprint opportunity with Ethan Vernon
Corbin Strong abandons after stage 1 crash, planned 'wing man' Jake Stewart breaks collarbone, but Gilmore steps in to guide Vernon to team's first victory of season -
As it happened: Briton fastest on uphill sprint to win stage 4 at Tour Down Under
Extreme fire danger forces route change to 131km from Brighton to Willunga township -
'It was going to be 50/50 whether or not we had a stage today' – Changing the plans as altered Tour Down Under stage 4 survives the heat
Race director Stuart O'Grady said there was 'no hesitation' in making decision to remove Willunga Hill as 'it's sad from a racing point of view … but it's the most common sense and sensible decision for rider safety and public safety'
