Giro d’Italia, 4th stage: Parties, 3 on the run | The Direct

140 km, from Catania to Villafranca Tirrena. The only altitude difficulty is a third category Gpm. The Portuguese Almeida is in the pink jersey with the same time as Caicedo

12.35 – Parties

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Left, immediately three on the run. They are Gradek, Frapporti and Pellaud.

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The track

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After a third stage full of twists, from the collapse of the big names Geraint Thomas and Simon Yates to the pink jersey won by Joao Almeida in front of the triumphant of Etna Jonathan Caicedo, who has the same time as the Portuguese but is second in the general classification due to the hundredths of a second in the opening time trial, the fourth fraction should prove to be calmer. Excellent signals on the climb of Etna by Nibali, preceded only by Kelderman in the group of favorites. If the Portella Mandrazzi ascent does not make a selection, there could be a sprint finish, it is also possible that an escape from afar may come.

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Path

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The fourth stage, 140 km from Catania to Villafranca Tirrena, will be characterized by the presence of Portella Mandrazzi, third category mountain grand prix, at the halfway point of the climb (pedalable, slopes around 4%). From Catania to the gates of Taormina the runners will cover wide roads but with few straights, the last 40 km will be on flat roads, with few changes of direction. Less than 2 km from the finish, the race will leave the state road to connect to the seafront with a slightly downhill road. Approximately 850m from the finish, the last curve to the left will take the riders onto the final straight, where the sprinters could compete for the stage win.

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The situation

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In the general classification the two surprises of the 103rd edition of the Giro d’Italia, Almeida and Caicedo, have a 37 “advantage over Pello Bilbao, 42” over Kelderman and 53 “over Vanhoucke. At 55” the first of the Italians, Vincenzo Nibali , at 59 “Domenico Pozzovivo.

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