Following the rest day in Catania, the Italian leg of the Giro starts in the place on the east coast of Sicily. The riders head south-west, into the centre of the island. The route is an onslaught of hills, false flats, and short sharp climbs. Seems to be a perfect day for a break away, while GC guys have to be alert not to lose time on this demanding terrain.
The route travels to Caltagirone, a town build on three hills at an elevation of 600 metres. During the Middle Ages Caltagirone was also known as Queen of the Mountains, which must sound enticing to the guys with climbing legs.
With 17 kilometres to go the route climbs at some 3% for 9 kilometres before a rolling section ushers in the trying last kilometre. When the flamme rouge flies over the road the route kicks up to 8% and even double digit grades in the last 500 metres.
Are we going to see a first clash of the GC contenders? Whatever the outcome, chances are that the stage winner in Caltagirone will receive a pink bonus.
The first three riders on the line take time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds, while the last of two intermediate sprints (at kilometre 116.3 and at kilometre 137.7) comes with 3, 2 and 1 seconds.
Read also: results/race report 4th stage 2018 Giro d’Italia.
Giro d’Italia 2018 stage 4: Route maps, height profiles, and more
Click on the images to zoom
Related articles Riders - Giro 20 Withdrawals - Giro 20 Route and stages - Giro 20 Favourites - Giro 20 More articles Critérium du Dauphiné 2023: Bjerg storms into yellow
Critérium du Dauphiné 2023 Route stage 4: Cours - Belmont-de-la-Loire
Critérium du Dauphiné 2023 Route stage 5: Cormoranche-sur-Saône – Salins-les-Bains
Critérium du Dauphiné 2023: Riders
Critérium du Dauphiné 2023: GC Favourites
Critérium du Dauphiné 2023 Route stage 6: Nantua - Crest-Voland
Critérium du Dauphiné 2023 Route stage 7: Porte-de-Savoie - Col de la Croix de Fer
Critérium du Dauphiné 2023 Route stage 8: Le Pont-de-Claix - La Bastille, Grenoble
Tour de Suisse 2023: The Route
Tour de Suisse 2023: Riders
Tour de Suisse 2023 Route stage 1: Einsiedeln - Einsiedeln
Tour de Suisse 2023 Route stage 2: Beromünster - Nottwil
Tour de Suisse 2023 Route stage 3: Tafers - Villars-sur-Ollon
Tour de Suisse 2023 Route stage 4: Monthey - Leukerbad
Tour de Suisse 2023 Route stage 5: Fiesch - La Punt
Tour de Suisse 2023 Route stage 6: La Punt - Oberwil-Lieli
Cycling Calendar 2023
Tour de France 2023: The Route
Tour de France 2023: Riders
Tour de France 2023: GC Favourites
Tour de France 2023 Route stage 1: Bilbao - Bilbao
Tour de France 2023 Route stage 2: Vitoria-Gasteiz - San Sebastián
Tour de France 2023 Route stage 3: Amorebieta-Etxano - Bayonne
Tour de France 2023 Route stage 4: Dax - Nogaro
Tour de France 2023 Route stage 5: Pau - Laruns
Tour de France 2023 Route stage 6: Tarbes - Cauterets
Tour de France 2023 Route stage 7: Mont-de-Marsan - Bordeaux
Tour de France 2023 Route stage 8: Libourne - Limoges
Tour de France 2023 Route stage 9: Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat - Puy de Dôme