From @Eshnar's excellent 2023 Giro d'Italia: Stage-by-stage Analysis thread: https://forum.cyclingnews.com/threads/2023-giro-ditalia-stage-by-stage-analysis.38851/#post-2828614
Stage 3: Vasto – Melfi 216 km
Monday, May 8th, 11:45 – 17:10 CEST
Technical Overview:
Stage 3 is a long and rather odd medium mountain stage. From Vasto, on the Adriatic coast, the peloton will ride along the sea for the first 50 km, before turning inland, always on flat and straight roads. In fact, for the first 173 km, the only thing of note will be the intermediate sprint of Foggia, at km 107. At 43 km to go, however, the riders will hit the first of two categorized climbs back to back: the first, Valico dei Laghi di Monticchio (GPM3, 6.3 km at 6.4%) is a pretty decent climb, with tough gradients all the way after a gentle start. At the top there is a very short descending false flat section that bring to the start of the second climb, the much shorter Valico La Croce (GPM4, 2.6 km at 7.6%). The top is at 26 km to go, all a long descending false flat on winding roads with very few properly descending sections, and a few ascending sections towards the end in Melfi.
The Climbs:
Valico dei Laghi di Monticchio: GPM3, 6.3 km at 6.4%
The first serious climb of this Giro, it starts easy but then gets very hard in the middle, including a full km at 9.8% average. Official profile is below.
Valico La Croce: GPM4, 2.6 km at 7.6%
Short and regular at 7-8%. Combined with the previous climb, not bad at all.
What to Expect:
A reduced bunch sprint probably, or a breakaway win if the peloton does not care. But with the pink jersey still within reach for many, I would expect them to care.
Melfi
Stage 3: Vasto – Melfi 216 km
Monday, May 8th, 11:45 – 17:10 CEST


Technical Overview:
Stage 3 is a long and rather odd medium mountain stage. From Vasto, on the Adriatic coast, the peloton will ride along the sea for the first 50 km, before turning inland, always on flat and straight roads. In fact, for the first 173 km, the only thing of note will be the intermediate sprint of Foggia, at km 107. At 43 km to go, however, the riders will hit the first of two categorized climbs back to back: the first, Valico dei Laghi di Monticchio (GPM3, 6.3 km at 6.4%) is a pretty decent climb, with tough gradients all the way after a gentle start. At the top there is a very short descending false flat section that bring to the start of the second climb, the much shorter Valico La Croce (GPM4, 2.6 km at 7.6%). The top is at 26 km to go, all a long descending false flat on winding roads with very few properly descending sections, and a few ascending sections towards the end in Melfi.

The Climbs:
Valico dei Laghi di Monticchio: GPM3, 6.3 km at 6.4%
The first serious climb of this Giro, it starts easy but then gets very hard in the middle, including a full km at 9.8% average. Official profile is below.
Valico La Croce: GPM4, 2.6 km at 7.6%
Short and regular at 7-8%. Combined with the previous climb, not bad at all.

What to Expect:
A reduced bunch sprint probably, or a breakaway win if the peloton does not care. But with the pink jersey still within reach for many, I would expect them to care.

Melfi
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