Giro d'Italia Stage 8: Sapri-Tropea, 217km

[taiwan]

Planimetria

Altimetria

Ultimi km

A straight sprint stage at first glance, but there's a sting in the tail. At about 2k to go we have about 600m at about 8%. Tricky stage to call, because if the climb were just a little earlier the sprinters would be able to deal with it, but when the inevitable attacks go off, how can the fractured group organise to pull them back in less than 1.5k? Something for an attacker rather than a good climbing sprinter IMO. Di Luca? Kiryienka? Or the pink jersey is within touching distance for Le Mevel or even Pinotti if they can make something stick.

 

[Jamsque]

Le Mevel will certainly have a dig, he's been up at the sharp end of things nearly every day so far. Di Luca looked pretty good when he shot out of the pack yesterday too. If it's another reduced bunch sprint then Ventoso.

 

[Raceoftruth]

Any chance of wind?

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

I'm expecting a full on sprint here despite the little dig - even non climbing sprinters would expect to be putting out serious watts at 1 mile to go on a flat stage, so when it's this close to the end I'm not sure it makes that much practical difference, and in the context of a sprint train I doubt anyone will be able make much of a gap and hold on.

 

[jens_attacks]

di luca.but i'm sure michele will go for the bonus seconds again.

and pirazzi of course.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

the course oh a whole isnt that difficult. A big group going at a consistent pace will neutralize attacks I guess. Will be interesting to see if the sprinters can not only hang on, but maintain a good position after that bump.

 

[will10]

Petacchi to take his 2nd. I don't think the climb will see much action.

 

[Anonymous]

Appollonio

 

[theswordsman]

Chicchi

 

[Michielveedeebee]

cavendish for his first (individual) victory of this Giro

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

cavendish for his first (individual) victory of this Giro

Possibly, but I think with the little speed bump Petacchi will have a slight advantage over Cav. AleJet FTW.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Last time they held a finish here it was the same one.

Bettini blew everyone away on the hill and held a nice advantage over the finish line.
It's not impossible for puncheurs. But with the lack of Gilbert here I don't think anyone can do it.

Rodriguez maybe, but then all GC contendors react. Di Luca? Possible...

 

[Michielveedeebee]

Rodriguez maybe, but then all GC contendors react. Di Luca? Possible...

He'll probably save himself for the Etna stage, attacking now as a GC rider would be a waste of energy with the Etna in mind..

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I know. I just recalled which people in the current Giro peloton could potentially do the same Bettini did in 2005.
Conclusion: not many, probably none

 

[taiwan]

Yes, Gilbert would be the one for this.

 

[therhodeo]

If the bump were a little bigger it would make me think it would be a good Vino attack stage but its not and he's not there anyway.

 

[jsem94]

Definitely AleJet.

 

[meandmygitane]

Petacchi, with a tiny, tiny hope that Kiryienka will do something crazy - probably not.

 

[The Hitch]

My guide lied to me. It has no 600m 8% at the end of this stage. Oh well good news i suppose.

Wow. Ale Jet was not kidding when he said he saw 7 stages for himself.

He won 2, a similar rider won stage 3 , the Wout memorial stage was flat enough, he should have won stage 6, this and stage 10 are flat with not enough climbing at the end to put off Pettachi and then stage 12 is like the flattest stage in Giro history.

I suppose 18 might just could suit him but probably not.

So the Giro has more flat stages than i thought and Pettachi is a pretty good cycling analyst.

 

[Cobblestoned]

Sprint, but possibly without Cav and Robbie. But I hope they'll bite and make it.
600m is not much, but enough to blow up if there are attacks. And I guess there will be some.

Petacchi all over it, or perhaps Vintioso again.

 

[luckyboy]

Cmon Cav get me some CQ points!

 

[zapata]

My guide lied to me. It has no 600m 8% at the end of this stage. Oh well good news i suppose.

Wow. Ale Jet was not kidding when he said he saw 7 stages for himself.

He won 2, a similar rider won stage 3 , the Wout memorial stage was flat enough, he should have won stage 6, this and stage 10 are flat with not enough climbing at the end to put off Pettachi and then stage 12 is like the flattest stage in Giro history.

I suppose 18 might just could suit him but probably not.

So the Giro has more flat stages than i thought and Pettachi is a pretty good cycling analyst.

i wouldn't call them flat, but Petacchi knows what he's talking about. I definitely pick him for this one. Question is, will Cavendish last long enough in this giro to win a single stage?

 

[hrotha]

Ciolek out of nowhere.

 

[Mambo95]

For goodness sake, it's only 600m at 8%. It's hardly the Muur de Huy. The sprinters will get up there fine. A few opportunists may give it a crack but there's still 1.3 k to go.

It'll be a sprint with all the sprinters there.

Cav to win.

 

[jaylew]

I hope someone someone successfully attacks on that last bump or Ventoso wins in a sprint but my pick is Petacchi.