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Expect an especially big party at the finish in Fano which annually hosts the oldest carnival
in Italy (photo w/ permission: tonifano)
May 8 update: Stage 5, the first road race stage in Italy, is a flat then rolling, southeast run from Modena in the Emilia–Romagna region to the Adriatic Sea and then south to the finish in Fano.
This stage starts in the area of Italy (Emilia–Romagna) known for the Coppi e Bartali stage race and the semi-classic Giro dell'Emilia. Modena, a Renaissance city, has hosted nine Giro d' Italia stages including a 2008 start.
From Modena, the course to the sea is straight and flat as we'll pass through well-known places such as Imola, Bologna, Faenza, Forli, Cesena along what is known as Via Emilia, an old Roman route, before reaching the sea at Rimini. This road was built first before any of the aforementioned cities existed. Although straight, there will be plenty of roundabouts, humps and stone-paved segments along this ancient route.
The last 50 km down the Adriatic coast has some roll to it and there is a Cat 4 GPM, Gabicce Monte (4a 109 m – km 174.0), 35 km from the finish. However, the last 10 km to the finish in Fano is flat and relatively straightforward.
Fano is an ancient Roman city and now a beach resort hotspot that hosts the oldest carnival in Italy dating back to the 14th century.
This stage should end in a sprint finish before the real party starts. — Steve