Stage 3: Sorrento – Marina di Ascea
Distance: 222km
Highest point: 587m
Category: Medium mountains
STING IN THE TAIL
Another seafront dénouement, another tourist mecca. Rolling out of Sorrento, the stage meanders south along the Amalfi Coast for 130 kilometres. It then reaches the first two climbs of the Giro, the so-called ‘Colli di San Pietro’. Though neither rises above 600 metres, it’s probable we’ll see the pure sprinters detached on the second of them, to Sella di Catena. The technical descent to Ascea won’t afford them sufficient time to get back on, so the stage winner will likely be a fast-finishing passista, or rouleur.
Stefano Zanatta says: "A big day for the team of the maglia rosa, who will look to defend him over two climbs. If that’s Cavendish he will struggle to keep it here but someone such as Modolo, who can look after himself on climbs, might hang on. Otherwise you’re talking about a really good passista, such as Astana’s Simone Ponzi. So it won’t make any difference to the outcome but the final hour will be spectacular. It will be very, very fast."
Stage 3 map
Stage 3 profile
