Please join us for live blogging of stage eight of the Giro d’Italia. Live coverage will begin at 7.00pm AEST with comments being added to this post as the race progresses.
Today’s 229km stage from Sulmona to Lago Laceno is similar to yesterday’s with its ups and downs. The hard work starts straight away with 20kms up uncategorised climb Piano delle Cinque Miglia (1284m).
The Cat 4, four kilometre climb up Valico di Macerone (684m) comes at the 61.9km mark after another set of roller coaster climbs. There’s yet another series of smaller hills preceding the 43km climb to Montemarano (836m) starting from the 164.km mark.
After 214kms completed, the final Category 2 climb up Colle Molella (1087m) begins with a total average gradient of 6.0 percent. 7kms in to the 10km ascent, it hits an average gradient of 9.4 percent for three kilometres, reaching a max of 12 percent.
Except for a couple of bumps, it’s then a 4km flat ride around the lake and across the line.
This should be an action packed finish. Emphasis on the word, should. I rarely get my punditry right so it was no surprise I was wrong about the breakaway yesterday.
It was almost shock – you rarely see GC contenders factoring so early in a Grand Tour these days on a relatively “easy” climbing day actually looking to race, not just limit losses or defend time gaps.
While Scarponi’s efforts for the stage win went unrewarded, his fight to gain valuable seconds was beautiful to watch.
Just as fabulous was watching the first Canadian ever to pull on a pink jersey. While I’m happy to see Ryder Hesjedal in pink, I hope it’s not too early for Garmin, although they seem to always have a plan.
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Roar Guru
Good night all. It's been fun. See you tomorrow night for my last night's live blogging for a week. Back on Sunday night. Thanks for reading and making comments.
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Roar Guru
Ryder Hesjedal is still in pink. GC not shaken up too much. But Pozzovivo has propelled himself up the standings a bit to one second behind Scarponi. 1 Hesjedal (GRM) 32:23:25 2 Joa. Rodríguez (KAT) +9 3 Tiralongo (AST) +15 4 Kreuziger (AST) +35 5 Intxausti (MOV) +35 6 Basso (LIQ) +40 7 D. Caruso (LIQ) +45 8 Cataldo (OPQ) +46 9 F. Schleck (RNT) +48 10 Capecchi (LIQ) +52 11 R. Urán (SKY) +53 12 Scarponi (LAM) +54 13 Pozzovivo (COG) +55
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Roar Guru
Cataldo (Omega Pharma Quickstep) perhaps a surprise top 5 finsher today.
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Roar Guru
With all eyes on Cav, it's easy to forget Uran sometimes, but he's defending his GC standing nicely. Great ride.
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Roar Guru
Pozzavivo wins and gains some valuable time on GC! Intxausti second and it's Rodriguez third. Looks like all the jerseys remain on the same shoulders expect for perhaps Stetina and the young rider jersey. GC not shaken up either except for Pozzovivo moving up a bit.
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Roar Guru
Pozzovivo hits the red kite. 1km to go. He has got this.
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Pozzovivo has reached the top, he now has 20 seconds on Movistar's Intxausti. Pozzovivo still has about 45 on the main group. 2.5kms to go. It's all relatively flat and downhill from here. Wow!!! Hesjedal now back up there at the front. Guess he just needed to make it over the top and recover. Great singlehanded defence of his jersey.
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Roar Guru
We should reach the top of the climb soon. Pozzovivo still 45 seconds clear. He may just take this. Although Basso and his team mates start to respond. On the flat, they could get him.
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Hesjedal at the back now in trouble. Will he lose the jersey? A counter attack comes now from Movistar rider.
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2kms left of the climb, then it's 4km flat. Let's see what happens now.
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Pozzovivo attacks. He's further back than his GC rivals, so this is good for him. Liquigas don't respond. Perhaps they don't see him as too much a threat. Pozzovivo is 1.42 down on GC. 6kms to go, can he stay clear. He's got some daylight now between him and the group
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Italian commentators not happy Visconti is at the back of this group, where funnily enough, Hesjedal is too. He's not there is a move of GC rivals goes clear.
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If Hesjedal is there, and I hear he is, he's not in a good position. Looks like Uran for Sky is also present at the front. 7kms to go but that means only 3kms up the climb.
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Basso is second from the front behind loyal Szmyd. 8kms to go
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Marco Pinotti has hit the front of the group along with Basso and a couple of other GC'ers.
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8.5kms to go. All together. for now. Cavendish's autobus has blown out to 8.40, surely will make time cut.
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Roar Guru
We hit the town of Bagnoli Irpino. Narrow and cobbly roads. Love it. Peloton maybe not so much. This section may also be selective. 9kms to go (and now tarmac again)
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Five Astana riders look to set this up for Kreuziger. He wants the stage. But I think Basso does too. Who has the legs for the last 4kms flat and quite obviously a sprint if these guys all get over the climb together? 10kms to go.
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12kms to go and the peloton is one behind the other as the climb gets harder. Astana followed by Liquigas at the front. Every GC'ers team represented though. Rubiano, winner from the other has fallen off the pack. It's starting to be selective. Others too have gone. Expect the GC'ers to "race" not defend again.
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Roar Guru
13kms to go. Is Hesjedal really in that pack?