Giro d'Italia 2022 Giro d'Italia, Stage 3: Kaposvár – Balatonfüred 201 km (Sunday, May 8th)

[Netserk]

From @Eshnar's excellent 2022 Giro d'Italia: Stage-by-stage Analysis thread: https://forum.cyclingnews.com/threads/2022-giro-ditalia-stage-by-stage-analysis.37819/#post-2691559

Stage 3: Kaposvár – Balatonfüred 201 km
Sunday, May 8th, 12:25 CET

Technical Overview:
The last Hungarian stage is the first chance for the pure sprinters, with a long but pretty simple route along Lake Balaton. The are some minor undulations and one categorized climb, Tihany (GPM4, 2.7 km at 2.5%). It tops at 12.6 km to go, but should just barely be noticed by the peloton.

Final km:

The Climbs:

Tihany: GPM4, 2.7 km at 2.5%
They really wanted to have a GPM and this was their best option I guess. No profile available.

What to expect:
The first bunch sprint.

Tihany, Lake Balaton

 

[JosefK]

No crashes, please.

 

[Netserk]

And the Tifosi said, Let it be a boring and uneventful day: and it was a boring and uneventful day.

 

[gregrowlerson]

A fascinating weekend stage for Libertine Seguros' enjoyment.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

So we have a hilltop finish on a Friday, and this on prime viewing day of Sunday.

I'm sure it's great for those on location, but the Giro seems to love making its overseas starts as awful as possible for the TV audience lately.

 

[sir fly]

Seaside

 

[Sciatic]

So we have a hilltop finish on a Friday, and this on prime viewing day of Sunday.

I'm sure it's great for those on location, but the Giro seems to love making its overseas starts as awful as possible for the TV audience lately.

At least the 1st two stages were interesting designs, much better than than the Grand Depart for many past GTs.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Echelons

 

[Jumbo Visma Fan :)]

The finish will determine if positioning will be key, if not than Ewan is the favorite unless the crash still affects him and he isn’t saying that.

 

[Mayomaniac]

So we have a hilltop finish on a Friday, and this on prime viewing day of Sunday.

I'm sure it's great for those on location, but the Giro seems to love making its overseas starts as awful as possible for the TV audience lately.

At least this way we won't have a pure sprinter in the Maglia Rosa, that's always a big plus for me.

 

[Amazinmets87]

We deserved this one after the excitement of the last two stages.

Wind reports?

 

[Netserk]

Wind reports?

Quiet.

 

[Jacques (7 ch)]

Hungarians in the break. Please ….

 

[Jacques (7 ch)]

Seaside

Look out for the Hungarian Navy

 

[Devil's Elbow]

At least it's a sprint without an obvious winner. Ewan usually doesn't like the first sprint of a GT and might not be at 100% after his crash, Cavendish is wildly inconsistent this year, and everyone else doesn't usually win in a field of this strength (anymore).

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I'm still in disbelief MVDP willingly sacrifices his own sprint (and a shot at the ciclamino) to support... Mareczko in these sprints.

I mean if Merlier or Philipsen were here I'd understand. But without them for the love of god just try sprinting. Yes you won't win against Cav or Ewan but you can easily Sagan your way to points jersey

 

[Valv.Piti]

I barely know which sprinters decided to take the start in this race, but I guess its a watch the last 10 km angle.

 

[Red Rick]

So we have a hilltop finish on a Friday, and this on prime viewing day of Sunday.

I'm sure it's great for those on location, but the Giro seems to love making its overseas starts as awful as possible for the TV audience lately.

You can thank Dutch geography

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I barely know which sprinters decided to take the start in this race, but I guess its a watch the last 10 km angle.

Cav, Ewan, Gaviria, Nizzolo, Demare

 

[Devil's Elbow]

You can thank Dutch geography

And Dutch local and regional politicians' hard-on for GT starts, for that matter.

 

[Red Rick]

And Dutch local and regional politicians' hard-on for GT starts, for that matter.

Can't wait to go to the anti Giro start demonstration in The Hague and lecture the "hurr durr cycling bad gimme Formula1 lot" about Fauniera and Fedaia instead

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

I'm still in disbelief MVDP willingly sacrifices his own sprint (and a shot at the ciclamino) to support... Mareczko in these sprints.

I mean if Merlier or Philipsen were here I'd understand. But without them for the love of god just try sprinting. Yes you won't win against Cav or Ewan but you can easily Sagan your way to points jersey

I think he really just doesn’t want to contest a load of full bunch sprints. I mean, they are stressful, chaotic and dangerous and he has a lot of other ways to win stages in situations where he’s the best rather than a dark horse.

 

[broppo]

ewan should win this. Yeah he fell hard, but it doesnt seem like a bad injury. He is the best sprinter here. A 50 yr old cavendish is not gonna beat him.

 

[broppo]

I'm still in disbelief MVDP willingly sacrifices his own sprint (and a shot at the ciclamino) to support... Mareczko in these sprints.

I mean if Merlier or Philipsen were here I'd understand. But without them for the love of god just try sprinting. Yes you won't win against Cav or Ewan but you can easily Sagan your way to points jersey

mvdp wants to be good after the giro too. Spending all his energy to get the points jersey might not be a great long-term strategy. You know the fight for the points jersey will be fierce, Nizzolo and Demare have basically their entire team here at disposal to get the green.

 

[SHAD0W93]

It’ll either be Ewav, Cav, or MVDP/Gaviria from something happening. Demare and Nizzolo don’t have the speed so far.

I'm still in disbelief MVDP willingly sacrifices his own sprint (and a shot at the ciclamino) to support... Mareczko in these sprints.

I mean if Merlier or Philipsen were here I'd understand. But without them for the love of god just try sprinting. Yes you won't win against Cav or Ewan but you can easily Sagan your way to points jersey

But is he going to ride the whole Giro or withdraw before the final week to prepare for the Tour?