This year, the Italian grand tour starts in the Hungarian Capital of Budapest to end in Verona. Unlike recent years, the opening stage is not a time-trial but the final one remains. A brief and trivial incursion in the home land of Pogacar and Roglic during stage 19 is to be cited.
You can watch LIVE all stages of 2022 Giro d’Italia HERE
Stage 1
A 195 km stage that finish with a 5.6 km at 4.2 %. Valverde would want to grab the pink jersey on his last year but Van der Poel and among others will have their say.
Stage 2
A 9.2 km time trial in the beautiful capital city of Hungary. The last 1.3 km is a climb at an average of 4.9 % with opening gradient of over 10%!
Stage 3
A long 201 km in the saddle that will eventually end in a bunch sprint.
Stage 4
In keeping with recent years tradition, the race visits Sicily. The stage with the ascend of the Etna Volcano. 22.8 km at 6.6 %.
Stage 5
A 174 km race in which a 2nd category climb could help filter out some sprinters.
Stage 6
One more stage made for sprinters, as there is no difficulties, except one climb beginning just 25km after the start of this stage.
Stage 7
4728m climbing, near 200 kilometers, 4 categorized climbing, a real hard stage. Can an escape group survived? It’s possible , the stage finishing downhill. Few years ago, a rider like Thomas de Gendt had enjoyed this kind of stage. But more probably favorites will end together, if Alejandro Valverde is still in head group he can win this stage.
Stage 8
Just finishing flat for the last 3 kilometers, this stage is tailor made for the fastest sprinter of the Giro.
Stage 9
One of the hardest mountain stage with more than 5000 meters climbing in the day, finishing to Blockaus in an ending climb of 13,6 km at 8,5% average. Only the best climbers can win. Who if not colombians?
Stage 10
We return to the seaside for an easy stage made for the fastest guys.
Stage 11
203 km near absolutely flat, only 340m climbing in all stage. You just have to watch last 5 km battle for the sprint.
Stage 12
Yes, a finishing flat stage, but before you have 3 cat3 climbs, last one about 30 kilometers from finish line. The question is who can follow the best, or an escape win today?
Stage 13
Who will survive Colle di Nava? A climb from 25km from the start to 54 km Colle di Nava, and then near flat till the end of stage.
Stage 14
A rugged stage, very tiring, after almost two weeks of racinDifficult to predict who can survive Superga-Colle Della Madallena twice before going down to Torino. An escape win? Or an experienced descender?
Stage 15
One of the hardest and decisive stage before rest day. 2 cat1 climbs before final one to COGNE at 1611 meters. The stage tailor made for the best climbers and GC riders.
A challenging 177km before rest day with 3 categorised climbs in the last 87km including Pila-Les Fleurs & Verrogne and over 4000m of climbing.
Stage 16
202km after rest day and a total of 5268m climbing with 3 cat 1 each that will go towards the GC men.
Stage 17
168km with 2 cat 1 climbs beginning with 46.2km which could launch attacks from the breakaway if they are still there or from the GC men.
Stage 18
152km after 2 hard stages will be the last chance for sprinters to get a stage win.
Stage 19
177km and the Giro visits Slovenia the home of Roglic & Pogacar , a breakaway should win but the Kolovrat should inspire the GC men to have a attack just over 43km until the line.
Stage 20
The Queen stage with a gruelling 168km with 4718m of climbing including the HC Passo Pordoi & 2 cat 1 climbs of Passo San Pellogrino & Passo Fedaia.
Stage 21
A 17.4km ITT around Verona with a 4.1km climb at 5.4% which can cause a late change in GC positions if time gaps are close.
Predictions for overall general classification
| Lulu | CC2004 | Mufcfaan | |
| ★★★★★ | Richard Carapaz | Richard Carapaz | Richard Carapaz |
| ★★★★ | Joao Almeida | Pello Bilbao | Joao Almeida |
| ★★★ | Romain Bardet | Joao Almeida | Romain Bardet |
| ★★ | Simon YAtes | Romain Bardet | Simon Yates |
| ★ | Guillaume Martin | Guillaume Martin | Jai Hindley |
LULU
Richard Carapaz is the favorite number one, and he knows how to win a Giro.
Joao Almeida is one of his best challengers, even if at the moment in 2022, he has no win.
Romain Bardet seems to return at his best and can hope for podium.
Simon Yates can hope for top 5 if he has not one day off like it happens too often.
Guillaume Martin is a regularly top 10 rider , he can hope for better.
CC2004
Richard Carapaz – The high altitude & great team support makes him a big favourite to win his second Giro.
Pello Bilbao – In good form by winning a stage at the Tour of the Alps
Joao Almeida – 6th last and 4th in 2020, surely in contention for a podium and good time trial.
Romain Bardet – Winner of the Tour of the Alps a rider who can attack and make the race exciting.
Guillaume Martin – Another good grand tour rider and a lack of time trial should mean he can get close to the top.
MUFCFAAN
Richard Carapaz has probably the best team around him but Joao Almeida with his time trial abilities should give him a run for his money. There is arguably nobody on earth who can climb like Simon Yates on his best days, but everyday will not be a walk in the garden for the Britain twin. Big things are expected from Romain Bardet in this Giro as well as Giulio Ciccone. The latter will however have to battle hard to overcome his time trial weakness as compared to Jai Hindley.
