Giro d'Italia - Stage 4

A miniature Milan-San Remo to take the race to the coast

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Giro d'Italia - Stage 4

Dates 7 May
Race Length 187 kms
Start Acqui Terme
Finish Andora
Race Category Elite Men

Published: 30 April 2024

Stage 4: Acqui Terme – Andora (190km)

Dubbed a miniature Milan-San Remo by some, stage 4 from Acqui Terme to Andora takes the Giro d’Italia peloton from the flat plains of the Poe Valley and to the Ligurian Coast, just like La Primavera.

While it does take on the same general shape as Milan-San Remo, the stage is not nearly as long nor as punchy towards the end of the stage with only 190km of total distance rather than the Monument distance of 290km. Additionally, the race finishes in Andora and not San Remo, so the Cipressa, Poggio combo is traded for the Capo Mele further east on the coast. Nevertheless, expect a sprint on the waterfront akin to San Remo of yesteryear.

The finale could be an incredibly tricky and certainly rapid affair with a short climb inside the final 3km that immediately leads to a downhill section before the sprint towards the line. The climb is 1.6km at 5.1% and shouldn’t create too much of an issue for the sprinters but the descent could be a massive problem, especially in the wet. There’s also a roundabout in the final 400m and with speeds in excess of 70-80kph, riders will have to balance caution with the urgent need to be at the front.