2016 Giro d'Italia - Stage 4 Catanzaro – Praia a Mare 200km

[Jancouver]

STAGE 4 – Catanzaro – Praia a Mare 200 km

Stage start: 12.20 CET, 10 May

Technical Overview:
After the first rest day, the Italian part of the race starts from Catanzaro, almost at the very bottom of the boot, for a very tricky stage. After the first 35 km and the intermediate sprint in Marinella, the riders will hit the Tyrrhenian coast, and never leave it, apart from a few incursions into the hills nearby. Statistics say that in May winds have a high chance to come from W-S-W, that would mean crosswinds all day. However don't celebrate yet, because the stats also say winds are weak more often than not. Winds aside, after 85 km of riding along the seaside comes the first decent climb of the Giro, Bonifati (6.55 km at 5.8%, GPM3), with the top at 74 km to go. After a very fast and technical descent, the peloton will get to the coast again, for only 12 km, and then climb the second and final categorized climb of the day. San Pietro (5.3 km at 6.8%, GPM3) is shorter and steeper than the previous climb, especially considering its central 2.5 km at 8.6%. The top is at 50 km to go, and the descent is extremely technical. Back to the sea again, a flat section of 17 km will bring the riders to the second intermediate sprint in Scalea, at 25 km to go, which is where the last part of the stage starts. After climbing roughly 3 km at 4.5% to reach the town of S.Nicola Arcella, the riders will race through a series of ups & downs to arrive in Praia a Mare. Here they'll face the final difficulty of the day, Via del Fortino, 1.8 km at 7.7% average, with max 18%. The pointy look of this climb in the profile is due to a tunnel at the top. In reality, the descent starts as a false flat, as shown in the final km detailed profile. Of the 8.7 km that lead to the finishing line, only the final 3 are flat along the coast.

The Climbs:

Bonifati GPM3
Very constant and gentle climb. A good first contact with the hills.

San Pietro GPM3
Much harder, with a first short ramp, a very quick false flat section and the main, steep central stretch, before the easier final km.

What to expect:
This is a very nice stage, with huge potential for the spectacle. It will not probably be selective enough for the GC guys, but the stage hunters will definitely give it a go, also considering that the pink jersey will be at stake, unless somebody has literally smashed the prologue. A reduced sprint is an option too, of course.

 

[Jspear]

Moreno Moser for the win

 

[Jancouver]

Re:

Moreno Moser for the win

Apparently, he officially announced to join the break tomorrow. Well, they actually may let him go as he is not a GC contender, so the pink jersey is a (5%) possibility

 

[gregrowlerson]

Re: Re:

BUMP.

Oh. My. God. It's a stage with BUMPS!

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Kittel FTW

 

[Sasquatch]

Kittel to take this in a reduced peloton! Can't see him getting dropped here.

 

[jens_attacks]

Lol kittel will be dropped easily here folks
Expect astana to go crazy like last year
Nibali or moreno moser for me.

 

[Brullnux]

If this stage is ridden hard then Kittel will drop on San Pietro, which is a decent climb. I hope Astana will go crazy, or Movistar.

 

[Red Rick]

Cool stage. Expecting some team to wreck the peloton a bit. Dumoulin to take la Maglia Rosa

 

[fauniera]

Re:

If this stage is ridden hard then Kittel will drop on San Pietro, which is a decent climb. I hope Astana will go crazy, or Movistar.

San Pietro is 50 km before the finish, don't think the stage will be that crazy. Sonny for me.

 

[Kwibus]

Hard to predict stage obviously.

I'm counting on a reduced bunch sprint with maybe 1-2 attackers staying away.

 

[MatParker117]

Lotto might set this up for Enrico.

 

[torcia_86]

Re: 2016 Giro d'Italia - Stage 4 Catanzaro – Praia a Mare 20

colbrelli or battaglin

 

[StryderHells]

Colbrelli or Ulissi for the win and Astana to race it hard

 

[rune1107]

Re: 2016 Giro d'Italia - Stage 4 Catanzaro – Praia a Mare 20

Very nice stage! Colbrelli or Nizzolo in reduced bunch sprint

 

[DFA123]

Think Nizzolo or Viviani will take this. Kittel will probably finish in the peloton and keep the MR, but will be too far back and too tired after the last climb to properly contest the sprint.

 

[TheGreenMonkey]

A good stage to start the Giro

 

[Bakkie]

Kittel in this form have a chance here.

 

[saganftw]

to the horror of everyone,kittel will attack on the last hill of the day with landa on his wheel

 

[GP Blanco]

Valverde will start his bonus hunt by finishing top 3

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Re:

to the horror of everyone,kittel will attack on the last hill of the day with landa on his wheel

Why would that be a horror? Shouldn't we be happy if Kittel starts racing and becomes a cyclist?

 

[togo95]

I don't think Kittel stands any chance here. There are way too many teams which will want a high tempo, either to get rid of him or to keep safe.

 

[Bavarianrider]

Re: 2016 Giro d'Italia - Stage 4 Catanzaro – Praia a Mare 20

I don't think any of the GC teams is interested in a fast pace. Therefore it will either be a breakaway win of some no name or Kittel wins it in a reduced bunch sprint.

 

[Bavarianrider]

Re:

to the horror of everyone,kittel will attack on the last hill of the day with landa on his wheel

If this happens this board will crash for like the next 5 days.

 

[ice&fire]

Re: 2016 Giro d'Italia - Stage 4 Catanzaro – Praia a Mare 20

I don't think any of the GC teams is interested in a fast pace. Therefore it will either be a breakaway win of some no name or Kittel wins it in a reduced bunch sprint.

GCs teams may not be interested in a fast pace, but other sprinters' teams might. And we've seen that in the past with Sagan vs Cavendish, Greipel and Kittel in the TdF 2013.