Stage 8 of the Giro will be another difficult medium mountain stage, as the riders travel from Foligno to Arezzo. This 186-kilometre stage could see the general classification get a further shake-up before tomorrow’s all-important time trial.
The stage is fairly uncomplicated for the first 100 kilometres, with the only obstacle being the first intermediate sprint in the town of Umbertide after 63 kilometres.
However, the stage starts to change with 75 kilometres to go, as the riders start the ascent of the third category climb of the Valico della Rassinata. The climb is not at all difficult at six kilometres at under four per cent.
The riders will then descend off the climb and into the second and final intermediate sprint at Indicatore with 42 kilometres remaining in the stage.
Once through the sprint, the riders will then prepare themselves for the main part of the day’s stage, the second category climb of the Alpe Di Ponti.
They will head through the finishing town of Arezzo, riding out along back roads before hitting the eight-kilometre climb which average out at around 6.5 per cent. While the gradients are not terribly steep, the main obstacle of the climb is that the final six kilometres of the climb are on dirt.
The steady nature of the climb should mean that the riders do not have too much trouble with a slipping rear wheel on the dirt, however, if riders are not smooth in their pedal stroke, the problem may still arise.
The climb is summitted within the final 20 kilometres, and is followed by 11 kilometres of technical descending, before the road flattens out leading into a slight uphill drag into the finishing line in Arezzo.
A stage where time can be lost by the general classification contenders, both on the way up, and on the way down the climb.
As it is the last stage before the all-important time trial, this stage could be for the breakaway, as the general classification contenders will want to save all their energy for tomorrow’s race of truth.
Look for Vincenzo Nibali to assert himself on the descent and gain back the few seconds he lost on the uphill finish on Stage 8.
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