The first half of the 229 kilometres journey through the Negev Desert is the most accidented part of the route. Yet, the vertical gain is basically all on sheer endless false flats, while the last 50 kilometres are as flat as a roller rink. When the sprint teams are watchful, nothing will stand in the way of a bunch sprint.
Last year, Fernando Gaviria was the fastest sprinter in the Giro d’Italia. The Colombian won four stage wins, yet he will be absent in 2018.
Elia Viviani is the only stellar sprinter on the start list. His move from Sky to QuickStep worked out well for the Italian. He already won five stages – two in the Dubai Tour, one in Abu Dhabi, one in the Tour Down Under, and Driedaagse Brugge-De Panne – and the Dubai Tour’s GC.
The Italian continued his winning streak in the Giro’s first opportunity for fast finishers. Yesterday he outpowered Jakub Mareczko, Sam Bennett, Niccolo Bonifazio and Sacha Modolo in Tel Aviv.
Favourites 3rd stage 2018 Giro d’Italia
*** Elia Viviani, Niccolo Bonifazio, Sam Bennett
** Danny van Poppel, Sacha Modolo, Jakub Mareczko, Ryan Gibbons
* Jens Debusschere, Enrico Battaglin, Andrea Guardini, Clement Venturini
Read also: route 3rd stage 2018 Giro d’Italia.
Giro d’Italia 2018 stage 3: Route maps, height profiles, and more
Click on the images to zoom
Related articles Riders - Giro 20 Withdrawals - Giro 20 Favourites - Giro 20 Favourites - Giro 20 Preview - Giro 20 More articles BinckBank Tour 2019: Naesen wins final stage, De Plus takes GC
BinckBank Tour 2019 Route stage 7: Sint-Pieters-Leeuw – Geraardsbergen
Enter Vuelta pool with 17,500 euros in prize money
Vuelta 2019: The Route
Vuelta 2019: Riders
Vuelta 2019: Favourites
Vuelta 2019 Route stage 1: Las Salinas de Torrevieja - Torrevieja
Vuelta 2019 Favourites stage 1: TTT with red lining
Vuelta 2019 Route stage 2: Benidorm - Calpe
Vuelta 2019 Favourites stage 2: Versatile ride to Calpe
Vuelta 2019 Route stage 3: Ibi – Alicante
Vuelta 2019 Favourites stage 3: Sprinters or daredevil attackers
Vuelta 2019 Route stage 4: Cullera – El Puig
Vuelta 2019 Favourites stage 4: For pure sprinters
Vuelta 2019 Route stage 5: L’Eliana – Javalambre
Vuelta 2019 Favourites stage 5: Mountain goat on steep last climb
Vuelta 2019 Route stage 6: Mora de Rubielos - Ares del Maestrat
Vuelta 2019 Favourites stage 6: Breakaway Day
Vuelta 2019 Route stage 7: Onda – Mas de la Costa
Vuelta 2019 Favourites stage 7: GC battle on finishing Wall
Vuelta 2019 Route stage 8: Valls – Igualada
Vuelta 2019 Favourites stage 8: Sprinters or (late) attackers
Vuelta 2019 Route stage 9: Andorra la Vella – Cortals d’Encamp
Vuelta 2019 Favourites stage 9: Explosive climb race for GC men
Vuelta 2019 Route stage 10: Jurançon - Pau (ITT)
Vuelta 2019 Favourites stage 10: Roglic for glory
Vuelta 2019 Route stage 11: Saint Palais - Urdax
Vuelta 2019 Route stage 12: Circuito de Navarra - Bilbao
Vuelta 2019 Route stage 13: Bilbao - Los Machucos
Vuelta 2019 Route stage 14: San Vicente de la Barquera - Oviedo
Vuelta 2019 Route stage 15: Tineo - Santuario del Acebo
Vuelta 2019 Route stage 16: Pravia - Alto de la Cubilla
Vuelta 2019 Route stage 17: Aranda de Duero - Guadalajara
Vuelta 2019 Route stage 18: Colmenar Viejo – Becerril de la Sierra
Vuelta 2019 Route stage 19: Ávila - Toledo
Vuelta 2019 Route stage 20: Arenas de San Pedro - Plataforma de Gredos
Vuelta 2019 Route stage 21: Fuenlabrada - Madrid
Vuelta a España: Winners and records
Tour of Britain 2019: The Route
Tour of Britain 2019 Route stage 1: Glasgow - Kirkcudbright
Tour of Britain 2019 Route stage 2: Kelso - Kelso
Tour of Britain 2019 Route stage 3: Berwick-upon-Tweed - Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Tour of Britain 2019 Route stage 4: Gateshead - Kendal
Tour of Britain 2019 Route stage 5: Birkenhead - Birkenhead
Tour of Britain 2019 Route stage 6: Pershore ITT
Tour of Britain 2019 Route stage 7: Warwick - Burton Dassett
Tour of Britain 2019 Route stage 8: Altrincham - Manchester
Tour of Britain: Winners and records
World Cycling Championships 2019 Yorkshire: Route ITT - men
World Cycling Championships 2019 Yorkshire: Route road race - women
World Cycling Championships: Winners and records
Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec: Winners and records
BinckBank Tour 2019: Riders
BinckBank Tour: Winners and records
Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal: Winners and records
History of the Tour of Lombardy
Tour of Lombardy: Winners and records
Tour Down Under 2014 Route stage 1: Nuriootpa - Angaston
Instagram @giroditalia
Giro d’Italia Tweets