Giro 2021:- Stage 4: Piacenza – Sestola 186 km **Spoilers**
blazing_saddles
Posts: 20,520
Stage 4: Piacenza – Sestola 186 km
Tuesday, May 11th, 12.05 CEST
Starting from Piacenza, the riders will head south-east, initially following the Via Emilia until Parma and then heading into the Appennines, after 75 kilometres.
Beginning with a gentle ascent to the intermediate sprint of Canossa, the road then heads upwards to Rossena, where the serious climbing begins.
Technical Info:
A very demanding medium mountain stage with potential GC implications, the route takes in a brace of ascents (including two categorised climbs: Castello di Carpineti GPM3, 3.5 km at 8.6% and Montemolino GPM3, 8.6 km at 5.7%), with gradients exceeding 10% at points, on relatively narrow roads.
At 24 km to go another climb starts, uncategorized: Montecreto (3.7 km at 7.8%). Past Montecreto and Fanano, the route takes in the Colle Passerino climb, which ends at 2 km out.
Final kilometres
The last 6 km are very demanding. Starting in Fanano, the Colle Passerino climb runs on narrow roadway, with gradients exceeding 10% over extended stretches, and lengthy peaks topping out at 13-14%. At the ‑2 km mark, the road descends for approx. 800 metres and then rises again with easy gradients. The route undulates to the finish, which is on tarmac.
What to expect:
Stage four is the first of the mountain stages and features 3000 metres of climbing to Sestola. With up and down terrain for the final 100km, the race may be difficult for the peloton to control and we will most likely see a string of attacks. The final ascent, the Colle Passerino, is 4.3km and at a very tough gradient of 9.5%.
If all this wasn't hard enough, so early in the race, the weather is forecast to be very wet, which will make the many descents extremely testing.
So, I think this is a stage for the hunter/chancer, with the GC favourites probably opting for safety first. However, after state of play after stage 3, there are few obvious suspect far enough down on GC.
Favourites 4th stage 2021 Giro d’Italia
***** Thomas De Gendt,
**** Simon Carr, Felix Großschartner, Jan Tratnik
*** Kobe Goossens, Pello Bilbao, Davide Formolo, Bauke Mollema, Romain Bardet
** Simon Yates, Remco Evenepoel, João Almeida
* Matthias Brändle, Giovanni Visconti
Piacenza
Located at the junction of four different regions, on the southern bank of the river Po, the city is the gate of Emilia, surrounded by the hills and mountains of the Apennines. The heart of the historical town lies in its main square.
Piacenza can also boast excellent DOP products, certified for their quality and area of origin; two kinds of cheese, Grana Padano and Provolone Valpadana, along with three types of cured meat: pancetta, coppa and salame.
Sestola
Sestola, a renowned winter tourist resort that is easily accessible from Modena, Pistoia and Bologna. The municipal area beyond Lake Ninfa and Passo del Lupo is part of the High Modenese Apennine Regional Park.
You cannot leave without having tasted the traditional speciality “crescentine”, better known as “tigelle” from the name of the ancient tool used to cook it. Crescentine are served with lard and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese which is made by local creameries.
/https%3A//gazzettadimodena.gelocal.it/image/contentid/policy%3A1.16045227%3A1540579449/image/image.jpg%3Ff%3Ddetail_558%26h%3D720%26w%3D1280%26%24p%24f%24h%24w%3Dd5eb06a)
Lambrusco is certainly the typical wine of excellence of our territory. A red with a strong character but that knows how to enclose the traditions of the Emilian grape varieties.
Tuesday, May 11th, 12.05 CEST
Starting from Piacenza, the riders will head south-east, initially following the Via Emilia until Parma and then heading into the Appennines, after 75 kilometres.
Beginning with a gentle ascent to the intermediate sprint of Canossa, the road then heads upwards to Rossena, where the serious climbing begins.
Technical Info:
A very demanding medium mountain stage with potential GC implications, the route takes in a brace of ascents (including two categorised climbs: Castello di Carpineti GPM3, 3.5 km at 8.6% and Montemolino GPM3, 8.6 km at 5.7%), with gradients exceeding 10% at points, on relatively narrow roads.
At 24 km to go another climb starts, uncategorized: Montecreto (3.7 km at 7.8%). Past Montecreto and Fanano, the route takes in the Colle Passerino climb, which ends at 2 km out.
Final kilometres
The last 6 km are very demanding. Starting in Fanano, the Colle Passerino climb runs on narrow roadway, with gradients exceeding 10% over extended stretches, and lengthy peaks topping out at 13-14%. At the ‑2 km mark, the road descends for approx. 800 metres and then rises again with easy gradients. The route undulates to the finish, which is on tarmac.
What to expect:
Stage four is the first of the mountain stages and features 3000 metres of climbing to Sestola. With up and down terrain for the final 100km, the race may be difficult for the peloton to control and we will most likely see a string of attacks. The final ascent, the Colle Passerino, is 4.3km and at a very tough gradient of 9.5%.
If all this wasn't hard enough, so early in the race, the weather is forecast to be very wet, which will make the many descents extremely testing.
So, I think this is a stage for the hunter/chancer, with the GC favourites probably opting for safety first. However, after state of play after stage 3, there are few obvious suspect far enough down on GC.
Favourites 4th stage 2021 Giro d’Italia
***** Thomas De Gendt,
**** Simon Carr, Felix Großschartner, Jan Tratnik
*** Kobe Goossens, Pello Bilbao, Davide Formolo, Bauke Mollema, Romain Bardet
** Simon Yates, Remco Evenepoel, João Almeida
* Matthias Brändle, Giovanni Visconti
Piacenza
Located at the junction of four different regions, on the southern bank of the river Po, the city is the gate of Emilia, surrounded by the hills and mountains of the Apennines. The heart of the historical town lies in its main square.
Piacenza can also boast excellent DOP products, certified for their quality and area of origin; two kinds of cheese, Grana Padano and Provolone Valpadana, along with three types of cured meat: pancetta, coppa and salame.
Sestola
Sestola, a renowned winter tourist resort that is easily accessible from Modena, Pistoia and Bologna. The municipal area beyond Lake Ninfa and Passo del Lupo is part of the High Modenese Apennine Regional Park.
You cannot leave without having tasted the traditional speciality “crescentine”, better known as “tigelle” from the name of the ancient tool used to cook it. Crescentine are served with lard and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese which is made by local creameries.
Lambrusco is certainly the typical wine of excellence of our territory. A red with a strong character but that knows how to enclose the traditions of the Emilian grape varieties.
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
3
Posts
So it's a question of who gets in the break, as to whether Ineos or another team is obliged to chase, resulting in a GC scuffle.
So hard to call.
That's pretty hard to do.
Another interesting day, it could be the first gc day almost by default.
I am not sure. You have no chance.
Some gullible folk on [email protected] if they think that's a recent picture.
Anyone see who was trying to join?
It's so hard to tell.
You would think it never rained in Italy.
Looks like that's it though, an Ineos rider in the new break, one Eolo (not Albanese), don't know who else.
Finish is tipping down, 8C and 40kmh wind. Nasty.
@DrHeadgear
The Vikings are coming!