Giro d'Italia 2020, stage 8: Giovinazzo - Vieste, 200 km

[Devil's Elbow]

After today, the only question is: Can Démare win this one too?

Stage 8: Giovinazzo – Vieste 200 km
Saturday, October 10th, 11:25 CEST

Technical Overview:
The second weekend opens with an interesting stage. From Giovinazzo the riders will go north, following the coastline for 90 km towards the first intermediate sprint in Manfredonia. There, they will enter the Gargano peninsula and follow most of the stage to Peschici of 2017. The first difficulty of the day is also the hardest: Monte S.Angelo (GPM2, 9.6 km at 6.1%) is a serious climb but it’s too far from the finish to matter. Its descent leads back to the rocky Gargano coast, which is characterized by twisty roads and almost no flat. The next climb is uncategorized, Coppa S.Tecla (7.6 km at 4.2%), but features some solid ramps in the first part. After the descent, the next little climb is inexplicably categorized instead, La Guardiola (GPM4, 1.4 km at 5.6%). Once the riders reach the finishing town of Vieste they will enter a 15 km circuit to be repeated twice. The only difficulty of the circuit is Via Saragat (1 km at 9.3%), which is short but hides some serious ramps (max 17%) and tops at 10 km to go, mostly descending false flats.

The Climbs:
Monte S.Angelo: GPM2, 9.6 km at 6.1%
A solid climb, close to 7% all the way to the top. Shame that it is so far from the finish.

Guardiola: GPM4, 1.4 km at 5.6%
Just very easy. No profile available.

What to expect:
Tough to call. Maybe the break of the day, maybe an attacker on the last wall, maybe even the peloton will keep it together for a reduced bunch sprint. This stage should be fun.

Vieste

 

[red_flanders]

A bit disappointing for a Giro weekend stage, but oh well. I guess maybe the lack of star power is tempering my excitement for this years edition as well.

 

[tobydawq]

Will Bora do their thing or have they had enough?

 

[Pantani_lives]

At first glance I would say this is a stage for Sagan, so Démare will probably win.

 

[yaco]

Bora need to ensure they do no work in the bunch - Let other teams work and chase onto their tails - This could be a breakaway day.

 

[Laplaz]

The last wall, which will be raced twice, is hard enough to drop the sprinters. But which team will try to drop them? Maybe UAE for Ulissi? DQS for Honore/Almeida? TBM for Battaglin? Ineos for Narvaez? Trek for Antonio? Lots of questions before the start.

 

[Lequack]

Another easy Demare win. When was the last time anyone had three stage wins in succession in the Giro?

 

[Screecher]

The last wall, which will be raced twice, is hard enough to drop the sprinters. But which team will try to drop them? Maybe UAE for Ulissi? DQS for Honore/Almeida? TBM for Battaglin? Ineos for Narvaez? Trek for Antonio? Lots of questions before the start.

Drop who? Viviani, Hodeg, Gaviria? Those guys aren't favorites anyway. They won't drop Demare, Sagan, Matthews.

 

[SHAD0W93]

I think Demare will win but Bora should not do any work till the end.

 

[Alexandre B.]

I believe it will mostly depend on who'll work in the peloton to reel in the breakaway.

I think Groupama-FDJ won't commit.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

No wind tomorrow, so that will not be a factor, despite being on the coast all day.

However, from the bottom of Sant'Angelo until the finish is pretty lumpy, with a lot of twists and turns, and I would not put it past both DQ and Bora to try and do something, to gain time on GC (and the stage win).

If they are smart, both teams put a rider in the morning break, to force FDJ to be doing the pulling in the peloton the first half, so that they are gassed when the lumpy part starts.

 

[Velolover2]

50-50 between break and reduced bunch sprint. Demare will survive this if Bora have to do all the work.

Sunweb have refused to collaborate with Bora and make the race hard. Even if Matthews looks to be in fine shape.

 

[Jagartrott]

Sprinters teams should leave it to FDJ to chase, then pound on the semi-mur twice. But perhaps FDJ is not interested, in which case the break will win with a 10 minute advantage. Or Bora do the chasing, in which case they will come up short when it's really needed, and Démare (yawn) will win again.

 

[staubsauger]

Another easy Demare win. When was the last time anyone had three stage wins in succession in the Giro?

Emanuele Sella came close in 2008 finishing second on Plan de Corones after he had already won the two prior Dolomites stages finishing at Alpe di Pampeago & Passo Fedaia!

Before Fred Rodriguez denied Petacchi in 2004 and Pantani was thrown out of the race before the Aprica stage in 1999!

 

[tobydawq]

Okay, let's maybe relax a bit. Yes, Démare has had a good Giro so far but it's definitely possible to drop him (and if not then a big part of his train) tomorrow.

 

[roundabout]

FDJ have 3 stage wins, lead in the points standings and theoretically this is more of a Sagan-Matthews kind of stage.

So yeah, they really shouldn't do anything, or at least do nothing until the most lumpy part is over and Demare is feeling super.

 

[sir fly]

First, Giro Rosa includes Maddaloni and now Giovinazzo.
If they continue like this they'll almost reach Paris.

 

[Ted Striker]

They can eat donkey d1ck with a route like that for the weekend

 

[tobydawq]

They can eat donkey d1ck with a route like that for the weekend

I don't think they will.

 

[Amazinmets87]

Is it just me or are people under estimating the difficulty of the Mur? The mur de huy is 1.3km at 9.3% this is 1km at 9.3%. With 10kms of mainly false flat after the climb I think a puncheur can make a play for it. Demure will be in the mix only if the climb is soft-pedaled.

 

[WKA311]

Bora should send Benedetti into the break to not have to work. He could even be able to win the stage if the break comes to the finish, it should suit him.

 

[Laplaz]

Drop who? Viviani, Hodeg, Gaviria? Those guys aren't favorites anyway. They won't drop Demare, Sagan, Matthews.

Well, if they push hard on the 17% gradients they can drop even Sagan and Matthews, the question is if they will (which I don't think).

 

[tobydawq]

Well, if they push hard on the 17% gradients they can drop even Sagan and Matthews, the question is if they will (which I don't think).

Maybe UAE will go for the stage with Ulissi.

 

[Jagartrott]

I don't think they will.

Pretty sure it's a delicacy somewhere.

 

[Red Rick]

I for one would like a detailed profile of the entire 2nd half of the stage. It looks like hilly classics terrain