Preview - Giro d'Italia 2022 Stage 1

The Giro d’Italia starts here. It will be in Hungary that the first three stages will be ridden, with a Grande Partenza in Budapest. The first day of racing is one where much can happen in the finale, but before the riders get to it there will be a 195 kilometer day.

Upstream in the Danube river, not too far from the capital, the riders will find the small town of Visegrád. There is where the first pink jersey will be attributed, as the peloton will see a hilltop finish after an almost pan-flat day.

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Stage 1: Budapest - Visegrád, 195.5 kilometers

The stage is to be decided in the ascent above the town of Visegrád. It's 5.5 kilometers long at 4.2% average gradient. A big-ring climb, with no big gradients present, where some sprinters can survive and have the fastest legs for the finale. The puncheurs may have more energy and hence be sharper towards the finale. And many – be it climbers, rouleurs, etc – have the opportunity to launch a late attack which can succeed in such an ascent.

Visegrád: 5.5 kilometers, 4.2% average gradient

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CyclingUpToDate prediction:

****: Mathieu van der Poel

*** Biniam Ghirmay, Caleb Ewan

** Alejandro Valverde, Diego Ulissi, João Almeida

* Pello Bilbao, Richard Carapaz, Romain Bardet, Alessandro Covi

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