Il Giro di Sicilia Open Fiber 2019 is underway

Stage 1 of Il Giro di Sicilia, from Catania to Milazzo

Stage 1 of Il Giro di Sicilia Open Fiber. The four-stage race, organized by RCS Sport / La Gazzetta dello Sport in conjunction with the Sicilian Region and scheduled from 3 to 6 April, will start from Catania, to end in Milazzo after an almost entirely flat stage with a KOM at 56km from the finale, where a bunch sprint is possible.

After crossing the neutralised zone, the peloton of 123 riders passed km 0 at 12:28.

WEATHER

Catania (12:30 – Start): Cloudy 18°C. Wind: moderate – 16kmh, NNE.

Milazzo (16.30 – Approx. Finish): Cloudy 18°C. Wind: weak – 8kmh, WNW.

Maglia Rossa e Gialla (red and yellow), General Classification Leader, sponsored by the Sicilian Region and Maglia Bianca (white), Young Rider General Classification Leader born after 1 January 1994, sponsored by the Ufficio Nazionale Israeliano del Turismo – citiesbreak.com

NOTE: Time bonuses: Intermediate Sprints: 3″, 2″ and 1″ for positions 1, 2 and 3. Finish line: 10″, 6″ and 4″ for positions 1, 2 and 3. One intermediate sprint per stage and a maximum possible 13″ of time bonuses. The maximum possible time bonuses for the whole race is 52″.

Maglia Arancione (orange), General Individual Classification by Points Leader, sponsored by NamedSport.

NOTE: 5, 3, 2 and 1 points for positions 1, 2, 3 and 4 at each intermediate sprint. Finish line: 12, 10, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 points for positions 1 to 10. The maximum possible points for the whole race is 68 points.

Maglia Verde Pistacchio (pistacchio green), King of the Mountains Classification Leader, sponsored by Cantine Cellario.

NOTE: 5, 3, 2 and 1 points are awarded at the top of each of the three single category climb for positions 1, 2, 3 and 4. At the top the “Superior” category climb (Serra di Burgio, Stage 3), 15, 10, 7, 5, 3, 2 and 1 points are awarded for positions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. At the top the “Superior-Arrivo” category climb (Etna [Stage 4]), 20, 12, 9, 7, 5, 3, 2 and 1 points are awarded for positions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. A maximum possible 50 points are up for grabs in total, made up from 5 for Stage 1; 5 for Stage 2; 15 for Stage 3 and 25 for Stage 4.

The route

Stage 1 – CATANIA – MILAZZO – 165km

An almost entirely flat stage, with the exception of the Colle San Rizzo climb just after Messina. The first part runs along the coast with a few non-challenging climbs and descents, punctuated by the more testing climb up to Taormina. The KOM is on the Colle San Rizzo after Messina, followed by flat roads towards the final 10km, which is raced entirely on the Milazzo peninsula.

Final kilometres

The final 10km run across the Milazzo peninsula, with mild uphill gradients over the first 5km, and then downhill, with short counter-sloping stretches, over the next 4km. The last 2km are on flat roads. The main obstacles along the route when approaching the town centre are typical of those found in urban areas, such as traffic dividers at some crossroads. The finish line lies on an 8m wide tarmac road.

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