Giro 2024 Favourites stage 4: Mini Milan-San Remo
foto: Cor VosStage 4 of the Giro is similar to Milan-San Remo. Not as long, obviously, but the route serves up a climb in the first half and a hill in the finale. And, guess what? That hill is the Capo Mele, famous from La Primavera. From the top, the riders fly down a 2.5 kilometers descent to the finish line. (Slideshow route/profile)
The first part of the route takes the riders on gentle rolling roads to Calizzano, nestled at the foot of the Colle del Melogno. Peaking at 947 metres above sea level, the Melogno is 6.8 kilometres long and slopes at 5%. Certainly, that’s tougher (and higher) than the Passo del Turchino, which splits Milan-San Remo in two. Undoubtedly, teams aiming to exhaust pure sprinters out will increase the pace on the Melogno.
On the descent, riders tackle the punchy Colla del Bresca – 1.4 kilometres at 8.3% -, another obstacle that sprinters don’t need. However, there’s still a long way to go to the finish line in Andora.
With just under 60 kilometers to go, the Giro reaches the Mediterranean coast in Savona. Along the shores the route continues on flat roads reminiscent of Milan-San Remo towards the Capo Mele. In La Primavera, the Mele is the first of a series of climbs, ultimately leading to the Poggio – in the 4th stage it is the Poggio in the sense that it is the last climb before a downhill to the line. The Capo Mele is 1.8 kilometres long and averages 4.4%, while the ensuing drop is 2.5 kilometres long.
Teams of the sprinters with a strongmen skillset are likely to increase the pace on the Colle del Melogno and Colle del Bresca to put tire the pure sprinters. When dropped, fast men have ample time to make it back into contention. And then, of course, they have to survive the Capo Mele to indulge in their favorite pastime – sprinting.
The total elevation gain on the roads between Acqui Terme and Andora is 2,148 metres.
Favourites 4th stage 2024 Giro d’Italia
*** Olav Kooij, Filippo Ganna, Binian Girmay
** Tim Merlier, Jonathan Milan, Tobias Lund Andresen, Laurence Pithie
* Kaden Groves, Christophe Laporte, Tadej Pogacar, Caleb Ewan, Phil Bauhaus
Another interesting read: route 4th stage 2024 Giro.
Giro d’Italia 2024 stage 4: routes & profiles
Click on the images to zoom
Watch the highlights of recent races here:
Leave a comment
1 comment(s)
Related articles Milan new leader points competition - Giro 2024 The Route - Giro 2024 Favourites - Giro 2024 Winners and records - Giro d'Italia Withdrawals - Giro 2024 Riders - Giro 2024 GC Favourites - Giro 2024 More articles Tour de France 2025: The Route
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 1: Lille - Lille
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 2: Lauwin-Planque - Boulogne-sur-Mer
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 3: Valenciennes - Dunkirk
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 4: Amiens - Rouen
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 5: Caen - Caen
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 6: Baveux - Vire Romandie
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 7: Saint-Malo - Mûr-de-Bretagne
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 8: Saint-Méen-le-Grand - Laval
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 9: Chinon - Châteauroux
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 10: Ennezat - Le Mont-Dore
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 11: Toulouse - Toulouse
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 12: Auch - Hautacam
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 13: Loudenvielle - Peyragudes
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 14: Pau - Superbagnères
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 15: Muret - Carcassonne
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 16: Montpellier - Mont Ventoux
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 17: Bollène - Valence
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 18: Vif - Col de la Loze
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 19: Albertville - La Plagne
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 20: Nantua - Pontarlier
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 21: Mantes-la-Ville - Paris
Tour de France: Winners and records
Giro 2025: The Route Rumours
Cycling Calendar 2025
Tour de France Femmes 2025: The Route
Tour de France Femmes 2025 Route stage 1: Vannes - Plumelec
Tour de France Femmes 2025 Route stage 2: Brest - Quimper
Tour de France Femmes 2025 Route stage 3: La Gacilly - Angers
Even though stage 4 contains familiar San Remo routes, the profile shouldn’t harm pure sprinters. It’s stage 9 definitely the one, where the tactics and action might look like Cipressa & Poggio games, because of the climbs’ profiles.in final 30k