Today’s route goes mainly south-east taking riders out of Tuscany and into Latium. After leaving Indicatore, the suburb to Arezzo and the starting point of yesterday’s circuit, the riders have 120 kms of flat before the real punishment starts. They pass by Lago Trasimeno – the fourth largest lake in Italy where in 217 b.C. the Romans and Hannibal fought a ferocious battle on its northern banks. The riders take in the famous student town of Perugia and then on to Bevagna where the climbing starts.
Forca di Cerro
Slowly but surely the cyclists continue into the Apennines. Forca di Cerro (734m) is reached after a climb of almost 10 kilometre climb at 4.6%. This could be where today’s grupetto forms.
Forca Capistrello
Next up for the riders is Forca Capistrello. At 1,211 meters, it’s a 16 kilometre slog to the top with a couple of flat sections along the way. Average gradient is 6.7%
Cittareale
After the descent of Forca Capistrello, the following 35 kms are relatively calm, until the riders hit the town of Posta. Posta lies at an altitude of 720 meters whereas the finish line in the ski resort of Cittareale is drawn at 1,535.
The final climb begins in Posta, but only really kicks shortly after Santa Croce. In total it takes 14 kilometres to climb 744 vertical meters – thus an average gradient of 5.3%. This isn’t an extremely difficult climb but given its lenght and the lenght of the stage itself, it could do significant damage.
That said, the real fireworks in the GC battle may be saved for tomorrow, when Passo Lanciano and the incredibly steep Muro di Guardiagrele are on the agenda.
The start of the stage is at 09:10 (CET) and finishes around 16:10.
Tirreno-Adriatico 2014 stage 4: Images
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