Giro 2022 – Etna, first justice of the peace? « Some might say goodbye to the final victory »

In 2022, the three big towers have agreed. With three starts abroad, all have embraced the possibility of punctuating their three weeks of racing with a third day of rest. It was this Monday for the 175 riders still in the running for the Giro who had to go through the transfer box, by plane, before tasting the Sicilian dolce vita at the end of the day. Of quiet life, there will be no question on Tuesday when the burning slopes of Etna rise up in front of them. Mathieu van der Poel expects to lose his pink jersey but what will happen to the suitors for this tunic?

Placing Etna at the start of the route has become a habit for the Tour of Italy, which invariably spends its third week each year in the Dolomites in the far north-east of the country. At the other end, diagonally, Sicily, land of champion Vincenzo Nibali, is never forgotten and its most obvious symbol, Etna has become a classic climb – it will be climbed for the fourth time since 2017 this Tuesday – the first grand tour of the season.

The day of rest and the transfer will complicate Etna

Guillaume Martin knows the Sicilian volcano like the back of his hand, having spent three weeks training around and literally on top of it. « I have done Etna many times. It’s a tough climb. There are very steep parts, this will be the first opportunity for the contenders for the general classification“, detailed the Norman for Eurosport last week. As for the climb itself, the riders will experience a good part of it but the last four kilometers will be unpublished in competition.

« Etna? It’s going to be complicatedassured us for his part a Romain Bardet perfectly entered his Giro (14th at 35  » from van der Poel). It can be hot on Etna, at least down below. We will have had a transfer by plane, it’s the same for everyone but we will quickly get to the heart of the matter. » This day of rest and this trip between Hungary and Sicily complicates the matter according to Martin: « We will have made a fairly long and complicated trip the day before. We know that after rest days and transfers, not all bodies react in the same way. It will have to be managed. It’s a steep climb, there may be surprises from this fact. »

Etna is never decisive on the Giro

So dangerous Etna? If one refers to these last « uses », it has in any case not offered a clear and above all lasting hierarchy. Having conceded almost two minutes to Wilco Kelderman on the third day in 2020 did not prevent Tao Geoghegan Hart from triumphing in Milan. As for 2018 (loss of 26 » on Yates and Chaves for the winner Froome) and 2017 (no gap between the favorites), Etna had given birth to mice according to the established formula. Bardet also imagined a similar scenario for 2022: « I think the ranking on Etna will not be representative of what it may be three weeks later« .

But for Eurosport consultants Alberto Contador and Jacky Durand, a lot could happen this Tuesday. « This step is important because it comes very early in the race and because of the consequences it can havejudges the double winner of the Tour of Italy (2008 and 2015). Anyone not ready may be able to say goodbye to victory in the Giro« . The long ascent of Etna, however very rolling, could thus offer beautiful gaps according to Contador. « I believe itabounds Martin. It will also depend on the scenario. If the stage victory is at stake among the leaders, there will be more battle still. »

« We will already be in the heart of the matter for the general classificationanalysis of his side Jacky Durand. Etna is a very long climb. There could be some surprises with riders who want to win the Giro and who could fail, it’s very interesting to have a big mountain stage very early. » Very interesting also because it will clarify the hierarchy in the general classification, bring certain riders to its heights and, perhaps, force others to react very quickly. Whatever happens, Etna will be the first great time of this Giro.