The race opens on flat terrain to enter the more lumpy part after 75 kilometres. Gradually and with ups and downs the route rises to the Carpineti fortress on Mount Antoniano. The riders reach the summit at kilometre 110 and descent back into the valley.
Another gradual climb – this time without the downs – leads to Montemolino. The gradients are mostly hovering around 4% until the last 2 kilometres take place on a winding road through the forest. This section rises at 11.6%.
Still more than 40 kilometres to go at the 933 metres summit. After a rolling section and a descent the route crosses the Torrente Scoltenna stream to return to climbing.
This scenario repeats itself in the finale – although the rolling section is much shorter and the uphill much steeper. The riders ascend out of the village Fanano on a small road through the forest. It is a 4.2 kilometres climb at almost 10%.
The Giro enters Sestola on the Via Passerino before a short downhill leads onto a undulating section of 2 kilometres.
The Giro last visited Sestola in 2016, but the finish climb was different. The then 21-year old Giulio Ciccone soloed to victory from the breakaway. It was the first big victory in his career.
The second intermediate sprint comes with 3, 2 and 1 seconds, while time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds are awarded to the first three riders on the line.
Another interesting read: live race report 4th stage 2021 Giro.
Giro d’Italia 2021 stage 4: routes, profiles, more
Click on the images to zoom
Related articles Favourites stage 4: Bike handling in intriguing finale - Giro 20 The Route - Giro 20 Route and stages - Giro 20 Withdrawals - Giro 20 Riders - Giro 20 GC Favourites - Giro 20 More articles Giro 2026: Route
Giro 2026 Route stage 1: Nesebăr – Burgas
Giro 2026 Route stage 2: Burgas - Veliko Tarnovo
Giro 2026 Route stage 3: Plovdiv - Sofia
Giro 2026 Route stage 5: Praia a Mare – Potenza
Giro 2026 Route stage 7: Formia - Blockhaus
Giro 2026 Route stage 8: Chieti - Fermo
Giro 2026 Route stage 9: Cervia – Corno alle Scale
Giro 2026 Route stage 13: Alessandria - Verbania
Giro 2026 Route stage 14: Aosta - Pila
Giro 2026 Route stage 16: Bellinzona - Carì
Giro 2026 Route stage 19: Feltre - Piani di Pezzè
Giro 2026 Route stage 20: Gemona del Friuli - Piancavallo
Cycling Calendar 2026
Vuelta 2026: Route & rumours
Tour de France 2026: Route
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 1: Barcelona - Barcelona
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 2: Tarragona - Barcelona
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 3: Granollers - Les Angles
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 6: Pau - Gavarnie-Gèdre
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 9: Malemort – Ussel
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 10: Aurillac - Le Lioran
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 14: Mulhouse - Le Markstein
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 15: Champagnole - Plateau de Solaison
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 16: Evian-les-Bains - Thonon-les-Bains
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 18: Voiron - Orcières-Merlette
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 19: Gap - Alpe d’Huez
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 20: Bourg d'Oissans - Alpe d'Huez
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 21: Thoiry - Paris