Stage 4 | Tuesday, 9 May | Venosa - Lago Laceno | 175 kilometres
After the peloton moved exclusively southwards on the first three days, a change of direction is now on the programme. The 4th stage leads westwards, now heading towards Naples, but not reaching the city until later. However, this means that the Apennines have to be crossed - and for the first time there are serious mountains on the programme.
Three 2nd category mountains have to be mastered. The Passo delle Crocelle marks the start, followed by Monte Carruzzo at a distance of 50 kilometres. Both climbs are approximately 20 kilometres long and have an average gradient of five to six percent. This does not apply to the Colle Molella: although it is only half as long, its steepest section offers over three kilometres of hairpin bends with an average gradient of ten per cent. And its summit is only reached three kilometres before the finish line.
Accordingly, the route goes downhill again before the finale, but without any dangerous bends. Two railway crossings intersect the route, but trains no longer run there. A shallow curve then leads the riders onto the 300 metre-long home straight, which itself is slightly uphill again.
Sporting assessment of the 4th stage
Stage 4 could be a stage for breakaways. Especially for those who are bidding for the mountain jersey and want to save it all the way to Rome. Stefano Oldani (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Simone Velasco (Astana Qazaqstan Team) or Lorenzo Rota (Intermarche-Circus-Wanty), who are doing well over the mountains themselves but are unlikely to have any ambitions for top places in the overall standings, are possible candidates.
For the top favourites to win the Giro, Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) and Remco Evenepoel (Soudal - Quick Step), the day is likely to come too early to open up the battle for seconds. However, the teams may try to lure the competition out of the reserve with several captains or classification riders. Ineos Grenadiers with Tao Geoghegan Hart, Geraint Thomas, Thymen Arensman and Pavel Sivakov, EF Education EasyPost with Hugh Carty, Rigoberto Uran, Jonathan Caicedo and Jefferson Cepeda or even Bahrain-Victorious with Jack Haig, Damiano Caruso and Santiago Buitrago would be predestined for this.
Schedule, TV coverage & live stream of stage 4 of the Giro d'Italia 2023
The riders start the 4th stage relatively late at 12.30 pm. The mountains push down the average speed, between 37 and 41 km/h are targeted. This means a calculated arrival time of between 17:00 and 17:31.
Eurosport will broadcast all stages of the Giro d'Italia 2023. Stage 4 will be shown free-to-air on Eurosport 1 from 12:15 pm. Including post-stage coverage, the broadcast will run until 17:45. The paid providers GCN+ and Discovery+ will also be showing a live stream on the internet from 12.15pm.
Giro d'Italia 2023 - Stage 4: The most important information at a glance
- Low mountain stage over 175 kilometres
- Start of the stage: 12:30 pm
- Estimated arrival time: between 17:00 and 17:31
- TV broadcast: 12:15 - 17:45 Eurosport 1
- Live stream: GCN+ and Discovery+ from 12:15 pm
