Tour de France: Vincenzo Nibali frustrated by weather on cobbles
Italian unable to gain time on rivals on stage four
Last Updated: 07/07/15 7:02pm
Vincenzo Nibali blamed the lack of bad weather for his inability to gain time on his rivals on the cobbled fourth stage of the Tour de France.
Nibali distanced all of his fellow contenders for the yellow jersey on the rain-soaked cobbled stage of last year’s race but, despite three accelerations, he was unable to engineer a repeat this time around.
Nibali finished 15th, three seconds behind stage winner Tony Martin and on the same time as Chris Froome, Alberto Contador and Nairo Quintana.
The stage covered 13.3km of cobbles – roughly the same as last year’s equivalent – but the weather was mostly dry and the road surfaces were consequently far less hazardous than 12 months previous.
Nibali said: “We haven't changed anything compared to last year - only the weather has changed. It was dry, so it was less dangerous than last year and it wasn't possible to create difference because we were riding in only one direction.”
Nibali accelerated on the third, fifth and last of the seven sectors of cobbles but was chased down by rival teams on each occasion.
He added: “On the last slightly uphill pavé section, I tried to break the group, hoping that someone would get dropped.
“It was a very difficult race. At the end we were all the favourites together and we managed to handle the stress of such a specific stage. I have received a great support from the team.”
Nibali had been hoping to gain time on his rivals over the cobbles and will now have to make up his 1min 38sec deficit to Froome, who lies second overall, in the mountains.
He added: “After those first few stages, I feel physically well. I have a deficit to recover and I will try every time there will be an occasion.”
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