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

[Dekker_Tifosi]

There is a section of 15% in that 600m at 8%

It's exactly the same hill as in 2005
You want to know the result?

1. Bettini (blew everyone away
2. McEwen +0.03s

then a mix of GC riders and sprinters. A lot of gaps in the peloton, halfway the peloton gap was even 30 seconds.

The thing was, everyone expected a sprint, and the only puncheur in front was Bettini, the GC riders didn't expect anything. So the only riders who could go with Bettini, were too far behind to react. They did overtake many of the sprinters though

Underrated hill. Underrated stage.
This could go in any direction. But since there is no Bettini-like rider in the peloton who is not a GC rider, I guess this will be Ventoso/Petacchi terrain.
Outside bet for Di Luca though

 

[roundabout]

From the live report the hill was within the final km in 2005.

However Cavendish won't win nor will all the sprinters be there.

 

[Ferminal]

Petacchi v Ventoso again.

I had Visconti to win it but he just doesn't have the condition to beat the raging pack.

Maybe Di Luca could do it.

In 2005 the hill started just after the 1km. I'm not convinced it's the exact same hill though as watching it again it seems to only be 300-400m. Also note that at the start of the climb there was a 90 degree left and then a 90 degree right shortly after which took all the pace off the bunch.

 

[taiwan]

I haven't seen any video of the stage in 2005. The climb's late enough that it'll be hard to pull an attack back, though. People are talking like HTC will just pull right over it withiut even noticing. I think they'll have to pull up to the hill, then climb it, then restart the train with 1.5 to go, from back in the bunch somewhere. If not a solo attacker, then a sprinter who'll go with a small group that gets away on the hill, i.e. a classics type. Cav's method is to do nothing until the last 200m, and here he would have to do something.

Now that I've taken that view though, no doubt Napolitano will win.

 

[Ryaguas]

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

You think wrong... I predict at least 10 attacks there...

cavendish for his first (individual) victory of this Giro

Keep dreaming...
Today RAI showed the finish... Cassani rode it himself and is not easy, sprinters are tired and tomorrow somebody or some teams will make the stage hard for them...
I can see Kiriyienka attacking big time there also you have Vicioso who is not going to wait for a bunch sprint cuz Ferrari is quicker... You have Sella too but they are being pretty cautios cuz Savio doesnt want to lose their positions in the GC so quickly...
Is a real shame that Jackson is injured... He could have attacked here... Still remember his sprint against Visconti in Coppi&Bartalli... He was flying! but Visconti is too much class..

What about Hoogerland? He flought yesterday... lets see if He is motivated today as yesterday!

I cant see a bunch sprint... Hope that Il Killer take this one or someone from Androni!

 

[auscyclefan94]

Ventoso or Peta. I really don't know why some of these teams bothered to send sprinters. Sprint stages can be boring but I think two more of them would of been a bit fairer.

 

[taiwan]

Wow they had a 1.14km prologue in '05. Incidentally, Di luca says on that page that positioning at teh bottom of the climb is what made the difference.

 

[greenedge]

I'll go with Cav. I think he can just about cling on and if not him in contested bunch sprint McEwan ( stay on pls ). Visconti is injured too. If Voeckler were here i would go for him. Kiryienka for outside hope ( fingers crossed )

 

[benpounder]

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.

Depends on how straight the downhill and flat are just before the pitch. If it is not too technical, chances are, the peloton will be roaring along when they hit the bottom, everyone in huge gears, and they will just power up those 650m.

Le Mevel has been trying damn hard and this may be his stage.

 

[meandmygitane]

Is the numbers on the last hill Vibo Vallentia Marinara wrong or what? 13m seems a bit for a hill with it's foot resting at lofty 55m .

The fifth town they are passing seems wrong at 4m too and a lot of other towns as well.

 

[craig1985]

Cav will win, his first opportunity since stage two and he'll be hungry. He's won on uphill sprints in the Tour, and got over a Cat 2 to get the win in the 2009 edition.

 

[red_flanders]

Glad I won't have to get up early for this stage. I want a service that texts me when they hit 10k to go.

 

[Ryaguas]

If there is a bunch sprint is cuz Lampre wanted it like that and was able to cancel every attack but that is not going to happen... I can see some small group attacking in the pitch and staying away... then you will have the peloton sprinting for the points... watch out for Vicioso in the last "climb"...

 

[jobiwan]

Cav better win for my Great Grand Tour sakes!!!

Should be an interesting sprint stage, if that means anything.

 

[mewmewmew13]

This seems to be Petacchi's moment...I'll root for the classy old guy.
One of these days I would really like to see Robbie Mc get his win, but don't think this looks like the one....

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Petacchi will take this.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Hoogerland and Pirazzi to attack a couple of times. Ventoso for the win!

 

[Fus087]

Is the numbers on the last hill Vibo Vallentia Marinara wrong or what? 13m seems a bit for a hill with it's foot resting at lofty 55m .

The fifth town they are passing seems wrong at 4m too and a lot of other towns as well.

Vibo Valentia isn't at the top of that hill, but after it. The 3D effect makes it look different, you have to look at the marks on the "front" of the profile.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Is there anybody who could pull another Bettini and put on a passable Gilbert impression?
If not the combined HTC/Lamre express could kill any break, but only Petacchi should make the ramp.
Maybe Roberto Ferrari as an outside bet?

 

[Climbing]

No guys,the 2005 stage was different, coming from another side.
And after the bump there are like 600 m of quick descent... so it looks possible to punch it to the end.
At least Cassani thinks so too, in his recognition.

 

[Frosty]

For the likes of Siutsou, Le Mevel and Pinotti this stage could well be their last chance of taking pink. Bit difficult to tell what happens tomorrow as the climbs arent the steepest but given the length it will break up considerably more than yesterday. Some of those guys should beat Weening to the summit but with Scarponi close behind on time and beating them, possibly grabbing some bonus seconds too, i think that those three may see this as their last chance to get the maglia rosa. Le Mev looks to have the best chance of the three but the HTC boys will give it a good go. Suppose that Cav's chances are linked to this too, HTC will want to position those two well and have to get Cav up there too. Will require a real team effort.

 

[Scirea]

Seems like the sprinters think it's gonna be a bunch sprint but they know that 600m, Cav and Renshaw are talking about positioning before that.

 

[Gloin22]

Varoslaw Popoych gave interview about Machado about his chances and his last stages :

How is your team's main rate Tiago Machado?

Today, it was bad. These mountains are not for him. But until you reach the mountains to the right ... Falling everywhere: they fell just like that, there the fall for the same reason. His problem - he feels bad in a group. He is afraid of everything, if someone pushes, he immediately scat. For the position of not fighting, as the young, it does not respect yet. If Contador, Visconti, someone else go ahead, they are not strong and are pushing, they can show the character and listen to them. And he even says nothing. We are trying to take it forward, but he can not even sit still for me. Do not know how to behave and everything. Today, tried to take him before the last gorochkoy and squeezed it out there, there is clamped, descends behind him in the *** ", as he sits in front of gorochkoy on the one hundredth position. He, of course, two kilometers shifted forward, but how much effort spent on it ... would they spend at the finish. Physically, he may well take the stage and not one. Our coach has to something hoped, but I think that the worst case (rzhot). He has yet to learn and learn.

Bit harsh isn't it ?

Source: http://translate.google.ru/translat...ovich-itogi-pervoj-nedeli-dzhiro.html&act=url

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Sounds like Machado is the 2nd Remmert Wielinga... afraid to ride in peloton

 

[canyonball]

I have no hard time believing and agreeing with popo. I just wish Popovych had the guts to tell Machado first hand, whatever he said to the press. After all they are roomies.