Stage 5: Catania – Messina 174 kmWednesday, May 11th, 10:30 BST
A very early start today, so that the riders can transfer to the mainland and get to their hotels at a reasonable time. Stage 5 follows exactly the same route of the Giro 2020, stage 4, until km 37.
Starting in Catania, the riders will go through rolling terrain for the first 50 km, mostly following the coastline. Just before the town of Taormina they will turn inland and the main climb of the day. The top is reached at 99 km to go. The descent is 25 km long, very fast with wide roads. After that, the final 75 km are all flat, with the last 55 directly along the coast in a predominantly Easterly direction.
Portella Mandrazzi: GPM3, 19.6 km at 4%
Final Kms.About 4 km from the finish, the race leaves the state road to enter the town of Messina, along wide city avenues for the first part downhill and then go up again up to 1500 m. This is followed by a short descent and the last bend is 800 m from the finish.
Final straight of 800 m, 7.5 m wide flat on asphalt.
What to expect:Breakaway territory with the large, strategically placed lump. Not too difficult to control, so a probable mass sprint or perhaps (praying to the wind gods here) even echelons.
Two years ago, a group of dropped sprinters who lost contact on the Portella Mandrazzi chased invain on the flat to Villafranca Tirrena. Obviously, the good news for dropped riders is that there are 32 more kilometres to regain contact with the peloton this time.
Favourites 5th stage 2022 Giro d’Italia
Caleb Ewan, Mark Cavendish
Arnaud Démare, Fernando Gaviria
Giacomo Nizzolo, Matthew van der Poel, Biniam Girmay
Phil Bauhaus, Cees Bol, Alberto Dainese
Edward Theuns, Simone Consonni, Davide Cimolai, Magnus Cort, Andrea Vendrame
