My prediction for yesterdays stage was partially right – a GC contender who lost time on the prologue to attack and descend to victory. Shame I got the wrong rider! Critérium du Dauphiné Stage 4 is the final chance for the sprinters to win a stage in this years race. The stage is the ‘calm before the approaching storm’ of 3 tough mountain stages.
The Profile
Critérium du Dauphiné Stage 5 is 176kms in length from Tain-l’Hermitage to Belley. The route is a little lumpy but features only two small classified climbs – both category 4’s.
This should be a repeat of stage 1. Breakaway – decent gap – sprinters teams on the front – gap shrinks – break caught and bunch sprint finish.
Stage 4 is not a day for the GC riders to feature. Sure they will hang around the front of the race to avoid crashes but they will not feature in the result at the line.
Nacer Bouhanni vs The Rest
Nacer Bouhanni comfortably won the stage 1 bunch sprint and it will be very hard to back anyone else for stage 4. He showed he is capable of mixing it with the tough guys and still managed to prevail. Were he able to get a cleaner lead out I suspect the winning margin would be greater than the bike length achieved in stage 1.
I mentioned that I didn’t think any of the sprinters would feature at the end of stage 3 – well they surprised me in getting over the late category 2 climb. In the end Bouhanni was beaten in the sprint for 2nd place but he seemed to only half-heartedly sprint. Alexander Kristoff claimed second place – in effect winning the ‘bunch sprint’. Kristoff seemed better in the stage than previously in this race. I think he will be closer to Bouhanni in stage 4.
Jens Debusschere and Sam Bennett should both be in the mix at the end of stage 4. They both surprised on stage 1 with Debusschere finishing 2nd and Bennett in 3rd. I think they are more in the mix for 2nd and 3rd places along with Edvald Boasson Hagen – who has two top 5 finishes now (stages 1 and 3). It would be a surprise for any of the three to win the stage. I don’t think they have the speed of Bouhanni or Kristoff and their chances of success might come down to opportunity if one or both of the big two get blocked.
Critérium du Dauphiné Tips
Back Nacer Bouhanni to win stage 4 for a 2.0/10 stake at 3.00 – with Paddy Power
Back him here:
