Giro d'Italia 2022 Giro d'Italia, Stage 4: Avola – Etna 170 km (Tuesday, May 10th)

Apr 30, 2011
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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-2691560

Stage 4: Avola – Etna 170 km
Tuesday, May 10th, 12:25 CET

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Technical Overview:
The race enters Italy through Sicily, which means it is time for the mandatory Etna stage. We start from Avola this time, on the east coast, and proceed to work our way inland on a rolling terrain, slowly ascending for the first 53 km and then descending for 30 km. This is followed by another 50 km of mostly flat roads to approach the volcano, after which the riders will start climbing. The first 12 km of ascent are little more than a false flat and feature the two intermediate sprints of Paternò and Biancavilla, where the final climb officially starts. Etna (GPM1, 22.8 km at 5.9%) is to be climbed from yet another road, which has pretty much the same numbers as all the others: it is a long and consistent climb, without steep ramps.

Final km:

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The Climbs:

Etna
: GPM1, 22.8 km at 5.9%
For what feels like the 100th time, Etna again, and from a new road, again. Well, not entirely new. Part of this road is the same as 2018. There is an 8.7% section, ending at around 6 km to go, that would be the best place for an attack, but it depends on how windy it is.

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What to expect:
The GC riders to get to the front and look menacingly at each other, like it happens often here.

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Mount Etna
 
Apr 30, 2011
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The five main contenders will finish together, someone else will win the stage.
 
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Apr 13, 2021
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Is it not the same finish as 2011? And does anybody know the wind direction? In 2017 we had not gc action because headwind
 
Apr 30, 2011
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Is it not the same finish as 2011? And does anybody know the wind direction? In 2017 we had not gc action because headwind
I think the original design was the same road (mostly) as in 2011, but this one is that of 2018.
 
Jul 4, 2016
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It did in 2018.

Actually also in 2020 considering the final winner of the Giro finished almost 2 minutes behind the best placed GC rider.
Is the giro 2020 more cringeworthy than tdf 2018 ? Should we have a thread on the gt that most makes you want to crawl out of your own skin?
 
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Feb 18, 2015
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The early Etna stages haven't really led to great gc battles since Contador's win in 2011 (and that stage came a bit later on the 2nd weekend) but then again with the exception of 2017 they haven't been absolutely horrible either. I also find it funny that we talk of these stages as if they had all finished with the same climb when in fact the final climbs have been different every single time but then the character of the stage does seem to be very similar every time.

I also agree that retrospectively the result of the 2020 Etna stage is completely absurd even though it felt so normal at the time. It was all shaping up to be the big duel between Nibali and Fuglsang we were all expecting...
 
Mar 13, 2009
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Does Yates want to take pink this early is the question?
I can see them letting a 2nd tier GC rider or early break go and let them have the pink for a few days.
 
Apr 10, 2019
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I think the original design was the same road (mostly) as in 2011, but this one is that of 2018.
2018 side with 3.8 kms on top of it to reach Rifugio Sapienza.
That said, the irregular "middle" side form Nicolosi is something I'd like to see once.
EtnaSapienzaSE.gif
 
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Oct 15, 2017
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Dont think much will happen until the last part of the climb. It will be controlled and a smaller group of favorites, in the end. Someone will try going for the stage and maybe gain 10-20s. Yates seems on fire atm and BE would surely like more wins.

You dont win the Giro here but you may very well fall out of contention, if you have a bad day.
 
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