The opening weekend of the Giro d'Italia was perfectly suited for climbers, but now it's time for the sprinters to shine. After the first sprint opportunity in Fossano on Monday, Tuesday brings another chance on well-trodden paths. Let IDLProCycling.com guide you through the stage, the finale and the main contenders!
Course stage 4 Giro d'Italia 2024
Following Monday's more relaxed stage, Tuesday presents a similar challenge, though with a bit more elevation. The race kicks off just after midday in Acqui Terme, a historic spa town nestled between Turin and Genoa. From there, the course heads south toward Altare.
The initial 75 kilometers are relatively flat until we approach Altare, where the course turns right to tackle the Colle del Melogno, an 8.9 km climb with an average gradient of 4.3%. At the summit lies a brief plateau, before we embark on a mostly downhill 40-kilometer stretch to the intermediate sprint in Savona, located along the Mediterranean coast.
From Savona, the sea remains a constant companion until the finish in Andora, passing iconic Milan-Sanremo locations like Pietra Ligure and Laigueglia. Beyond Laigueglia, familiar from the Trofeo held there, the route includes the Capo Mele, a climb known from La Primavera. Typically grouped with Capo Cervo and Capo Berta, this year the riders will face only the Capo Mele, climbing 1.5 kilometers at 5.1%.
With less than three kilometers to go from the summit, the route descends along the coast, incorporating several sharp turns as described by the organizers. Setting up a lead-out train is tricky here, and positioning at the front over the climb's summit is crucial.
The road flattens out about seven hundred meters from the finish, but the peloton will still reach the final straight at high speed. This last 800-meter stretch is on a perfectly paved road that is eight meters wide. Overall, this finale resembles a mini Milan-Sanremo, with positioning before the last climb being crucial and with a tricky descent, setting the stage for a showdown between the stronger climbing sprinters and any daring attackers.
Cyclimb
88.1 km: Colle del Melogno (8.9 km at 4.3%)
Times
Start: 12:35 PM
Finish: around 5:14 PM
Weather stage 4 Giro d'Italia 2024
Given the coastal setting, expect a consistent sea breeze from the southeast, potentially shifting throughout the day and blowing at a solid 3 on the Beaufort scale. Temperatures will hover around 18 degrees Celsius.
Favorites stage 4 Giro d'Italia 2024
Tuesday’s climb is closer to the finish with less room to recover on the descent, so the stage could unfold in several ways. Tadej Pogacar, who animated the finale in his pink jersey on Monday, might be the one to watch again. One thing is for sure: his rivals are on high alert.
Just like the actual Milan-Sanremo, the stage will likely result in a sprint finish. Monday's winner, Tim Merlier of Soudal Quick-Step, proved his mettle on the Fossano climb and will need a repeat performance on the Capo Mele. His chief rival, Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek), appeared stronger on the climbs, finishing the previous climb in about fifth place.
Biniam Girmay also showed formidable strength on behalf of Intermarché-Wanty, securing third place and highlighting his punchy capabilities as a potential favorite. Meanwhile, Olav Kooij (Visma | Lease a Bike) is recovering from a fall, so expectations for him might be tempered.
The top ten finishers on Monday included some surprises, such as Jenthe Biermans (Arkéa - B&B Hotels), Tobias Lund Andresen (dsm-firmenich PostNL) and Ethan Vernon (Israel-Premier Tech), along with sprinters like Fernando Gaviria (Movistar) and Alberto Dainese (Tudor). These fast men, along with others who underperformed, will be eager to improve their standings.
Could we see more attacks from the likes of INEOS Grenadiers? Perhaps from powerhouse riders like Filippo Ganna and Jhonatan Narváez? Keep an eye on them as potential disruptors in this dynamic stage.
Favorites stage 4 Giro d'Italia 2024, according to IDLProCycling.com
Top favorites: Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) and Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty)
Outsiders: Tadej Pogacar (UAE-Team Emirates), Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step), Olav Kooij (Visma | Lease a Bike) and Filippo Ganna (INEOS Grenadiers)
Long shots: Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Caleb Ewan (Jayco AlUla), Tobias Lund Andresen (dsm-firmenich PostNL), Ethan Vernon (Israel-Premier Tech), Alberto Dainese (Tudor), Jhonatan Narváez (INEOS Grenadiers), Danny van Poppel (BORA-hansgrohe) and Laurence Pithie (Jayco AlUla)
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