Stage 4: Avola to Etna
Date: Could 10, 2022
Distance: 170km
Race instances: 12:25-17:10 (CEST)
Stage kind: Mountain
Following an early relaxation day to permit the riders, workers and crews to journey from Hungary, stage 4 of the 2022 Giro is the primary to happen on Italian soil, although not on the mainland. As a substitute, the peloton will traverse probably the most southerly of Italy’s islands, Sicily.
The stage supplies a dramatic distinction to the largely flat Hungarian levels, with 3,580 metres of altitude achieve, and will provide the primary main alternative of the race for the final classification riders to make their mark on the competitors for the maglia rosa.
Setting out from the coastal resort of Avola, the race heads inland away from the Ionian coast and north throughout the craggy panorama that’s attribute of the island. The primary 50km or so are just about all uphill, which can present challenges because the day’s break tries to ascertain itself. Then as soon as accomplished with a big part of descending there’s a largely flat phase of round 55 kilometres that leads the peloton to the start of the primary climb of the day.
There are two intermediate sprints on the decrease slopes earlier than the ascent of Etna begins in earnest. It’s some of the well-used climbs within the Giro’s latest historical past, that includes in 4 of the previous six editions of the race. Etna has been prime looking floor for the breakaway in recent times – all three of the earlier latest ascents have been received by a rider from the breakaway.
The climb is listed as 25.6km in size at a median of 5.6 per cent in gradient. This varies in direction of the steeper excessive within the early levels, with over a kilometre at a median of 11.4 per cent and with a most of 15 per cent. It’s doubtless that early assaults could also be launched right here and the peloton will shatter because the GC contenders check each other for the primary time.
Following a few kilometres of welcome reduction as climbing shifts to a descent, the riders face a closing relentless slog of 13.5km at a reasonably regular 6.2 per cent in common gradient.
The likes of Simon Yates (BikeExchange-Jayco), Miguel Ángel López (Astana Qazaqstan), Richard Carapaz (Ineos Grenadiers) and João Almeida (UAE Workforce Emirates) will begin the race as favourites for pink. Within the breakaway nook, count on spirited assaults from riders corresponding to Rein Taaramäe (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux), Lorenzo Fortunato (Eolo-Kometa), Andrea Bagioli (QuickStep-AlphaVinyl) and Lennard Kämna (Bora-Hansgrohe).
