Preview. From the 2nd to the 6th of May the peloton take on the
Tour of Hellas, a race that was recently brought back and is now the highlight of Greek road cycling throughout the year.
The initial prologue of the race will open up the GC fight and make for an interesting start. It's only six kilometers in distance but will be enough to open up some time as the riders race through the town of Karteros.
Stage 1 is a hilly loop around Heraklion. The race starts and finished by the Mediterranean but the roads will be far from flat. There will be two ascents towards the start of the day where a strong group can go up the road, and late in the day there will be a few hilltops. After that is a fast non-technical downhill back into town where the GC can be turned on it's head.
Stage 2 sees some more serious climbing, however it's early in the day. The riders race over 700 meters in altitude there, and then have a few more hilltops. The riders then come down once again back to sea level, before a finale into Kalamata.
Prologue: Karteros - Karteros, 6 kilometers
Stage 1: Heraklion - Heraklion, 187.6 kilometers
Stage 2: Mykines - Kalamata, 178.2 kilometers
Stage 3 sees less climbing and a day that should be easier to control. It will be a 152-kilometer stage between Costa Navarino and Kyparissia which should end in a bunch sprint if nothing out of the ordinary happens.
Stage 4 has a difficult start which could make it a dangerous day and a difficult one to control. Between Costa Navarino and Ancient Olympia the riders will face a few hilltops, the 133-kilometer stage is explosive and will make for an interesting mix between sprinters and classics riders who can fight for the win.
Stage 3: Costa Navarino - Kyparissia, 152.7 kilometers
Stage 4: Costa Navarino - Ancient Olympia, 133.5 kilometers
Prediction Tour of Hellas 2023 overall classification:
***
Aaron Gate**
Polychronis Tzortzakis,
Anatoliy Budyak* Eduard Prades, Jesse Ewart, Emil Dima
Pick: Aaron Gate
