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After seven stages, Saturday will be the toughest challenge the peloton have faced yet, as the 2014 Giro d’Italia heads in to the Apennines for some serious climbing.
Stage 7’s finish in Foligno will become our starting point for Stage 8’s 197-kilometre journey to the summit finish atop the Category One Montecopiolo.
The business end of the stage comes with 53 kilometres remaining, where the riders unofficially begin the ascent to the summit of the Category One Cippo Di Carpegna. The preceding 126 kilometres will be a mere warm up compared to the three categorised climbs that lie ahead.
Measuring just 7.8 kilometres in length with an average gradient of almost 10 per cent, the Cippo Di Carpegna will soon cause a selection within the peloton. The official beginning of the climb starts off easy enough, with almost two kilometres at an average of 2.9 per cent. However, the climb soon ramps up to an average gradient of 9.3 per cent, before hitting 10.4 per cent for the final three kilometres.
After cresting the summit of the Cippo Di Carpegna the riders will have to contend with a narrow and technical descent for 5.6 kilometres. The descent will then ease in difficulty once the riders reach the Cantoneira Pass, which will bring them in to Maciano and the foot of the Category Two Villaggio del Lago.
Measuring 9.3 kilometres in length with an average gradient of 5.8 per cent, the Villaggio del Lago features an attribute common to many an Italian climb – an almost ever-changing gradient. With some sections flattening out at as low as 1.4 per cent and others rising to as high as 11 per cent, it will be difficult to maintain the right gear ratio and a consistent rhythm.
Following the summit of the Villaggio del Lago comes a three-kilometre descent in to the beginning of our final climb for the day, the Category One Montecopiolo. Do not let the deceptive average gradient of six per cent fool you. The slopes of the Montecopiolo alternates between steep sections, with gradients above eight per cent, and easier sections, around or below six per cent.
The General Classification contenders will get a slight respite during the final 1500 metres to prepare for the dash towards the finishing line, with the gradient mellowing for roughly 1000 metres at around three to four percent. However, a 420-metre ramp approximately 500 metres from the line, which bottoms out at a mere 10 per cent and scales as agonisingly high as 13 per cent, eagerly awaits them.
After potentially pedalling squares, just 80 metres remain to the finishing line, leaving the riders little time to compose themselves for a sprint should two or more riders be locked together. Victory should therefore go to whoever has the most gas left in the tank, if they haven’t already left their rivals for dead over the 13 per cent gradient behind.
With Joaquim Rodriguez out of the race we have to look elsewhere for someone to go all out on the steepest of gradients. As long as the featherweight Italian can keep contact with the other contenders I personally feel we may see Domenico Pozzovivo ride away to claim the stage honours. It would continue AG2R Le Mondiale’s stellar World Tour season so far and Pozzovivo on his day can easily climb with the best.
The Italian could face stiff competition from the likes of featherweight Colombian climber Nairo Quintana. However, in a Giro d’Italia stacked with potentially decisive stages in the third and final week, it is understandable if Quintana has yet to really hit his straps. As the old saying goes, you cannot win the Giro d’Italia in the first two weeks, although you could potentially lose it.
Meanwhile, last year Rigoberto Uran prospered on some of the steep and irregular climbs of the 2013 Giro d’Italia, and depending on his form this year could be very similar. Although leading a General Classification team outright comes with a different kind of pressure compared to lurking behind the shadow of Bradley Wiggins waiting to strike.
Lurking behind Michael Matthews ready to assume the Maglia Rosa – pink jersey – will be Cadel Evans. The Australian will lack the explosiveness that some of his younger and lighter rival posses, but he will attempt to compensate for that with his usual determined gritty style. Evans will be conscious of his rivals potentially going on the attack on the steeper gradients and will be keeping a watchful eye on them.
Finally, young Rafal Majka keeps on going from strength to strength with each Grand Tour and season he completes. As Cadel Evans’ third-closest genuine rival in the General Classification, the Pole’s ability cannot be discounted and dismissed. Last year Majka was below the level required to match it with the best over three weeks, but a year on he is stronger than before.
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