Stage 4 Avola - Etna (Rifugio Sapienza) - 172km, Tuesday 10 May - 3,500 vertical metres
Due to the international start in Hungary, there will be the first rest day after just three stages, on which the Giro d'Italia 2022 will travel to Sicily. There, 3,500 metres of climbing over 172 kilometres have to be conquered on Tuesday. The finale up to Mount Etna is particularly tough. The last 22.8 kilometres are uphill with an average gradient of 5.9 per cent. It is the first showdown between the favourites. The Giro cannot yet be won here, but it can be lost.
Stage 7 Diamante - Potenza (196km), Friday 13 May - 4,510 vertical metres
Although there is no mountain finish on the programme for stage 7, this stage is one of the toughest with 4,510 metres of climbing. With the exception of the first ten kilometres, the whole day is all up and down.
After the Passo Colla (3rd category), Monte Sirino (1st category) and Monte Scuro (2nd category), the riders reach the final climb to La Sellata (3rd category). The final climb of the stage is not particularly steep (7.8 kilometres with an average gradient of 5.9 per cent). However, the whole day is spent on small, narrow, winding roads, which could put one or two of the favourites for the Giro d'Italia 2022 at a disadvantage.
Stage 9 Isernia - Blockhaus (191km), Sunday 15 May - 5,000 vertical metres
While Etna was a first pre-selection, the overall classification will take on an even more concrete shape at the Blockhaus. The Passo Lanciano (1st category - around 40 kilometres before the finish) heralds the finale before the mountain arrival at the Blockhaus at 1,665 metres. The final climb has it all! 13.6 kilometres with an average gradient of 8.4 per cent.
The last time the Blockhaus was the finish of a Giro stage was in 2017. Back then, Nairo Quintana won ahead of Thibaut Pinot and Tom Dumoulin. The first 15 riders arrived within 3:30 minutes of each other - and there are likely to be big time gaps this time too. Especially as there will be a rest day afterwards, which will give the favourites the opportunity to recover from any attacks.
Stage 16 Salo - Aprica (202km), Tuesday 24 May - 5,250 vertical metres
On this day, the riders will tackle the legendary Mortirolo. Although this year's climb will be tackled from Edolo and, at 12.6 kilometres and an average gradient of 7.6 per cent, cannot be compared with the climbs from Mazzo di Valtellina or Tovo di Sant'Agata, the uncategorised climb to Teglio and the ascent to Valico di Santa Cristina (1st category - 13.5 kilometres with an average gradient of 8 per cent) await in the finale. The route then descends at a horrendous pace to the finish in Aprica.
A special feature of the stage is that it takes place after a rest day. In the past, some riders have had problems with such a difficult stage afterwards.
Stage 17 Ponte di Legno - Lavarone (168km), Wednesday 25 May - 3,730 vertical metres
The stage finale is similar to the previous day: another short descent from the last mountain to the finish. The last climb over the Kaiserjägerstraße (1st category) is not particularly long at 7.9 kilometres, but very steep at 9.9 percent on average.
Winding streets and numerous tunnels provide ideal terrain for attackers to evade the eyes of their pursuers.
Stage 20 Belluno - Marmolada (Passo Fedaia - 167km), Saturday 28 May - 4,490 vertical metres
A tough stage with three Dolomite giants shortly before the end of the Giro d'Italia 2022. First of all, the Passo San Pellegrino awaits the riders. This is tackled from the difficult eastern flank via Cencenighe Agordino. The first 12 kilometres are still moderate with a maximum gradient of 8 per cent. But on the last 6 kilometres or so, the average gradient is 9 percent, with ramps of up to 15 percent.
After a rapid descent towards Moena, the route climbs up the Fassa Valley to Canazei, where the Passo Pordoi awaits - at 2,239 metres, the Cima Coppi, the highest point of the 2022 Giro. The grand finale follows at the Passo Fedaia. It gets extremely steep from Malga Ciapela. Over the last 5.5 kilometres or so, the gradient rarely drops below 10 per cent and there is a ramp of up to 18 per cent.
The Fedaia Pass was last ridden in the Giro in 2011. Back then, the 229-kilometre climb ended with a victory for the Basque rider Mikel Nieve at the Gardeccia hut.
The pros don't have to ride that far this time. Nevertheless, the stage before the time trial in Verona offers the last big stage for the strong climbers to build up a sufficient cushion for the battle against the clock and ultimately win the Giro d'Italia 2022.
