Cycling: The eighth day of the Giro d'Italia belongs to the explosive climbers. But will the stage winner succeed over a breakaway or from the field?
Do the outliers prevail?
170 km are on tomorrow's stage from Foggia to Guardia Sanframondi to put back. The Giro d'Italia 2021 remains true to itself and always follows a flatter stage with a slightly more demanding one. Because tomorrow, of course, it will not be the sprinters who will triumph - but the puncheur. The only question is whether the winner of the day will be determined in a breakaway group, or whether there will be a team in the field that can bring the breakaway group back in time. Either way, the stage winner has to be explosive and launch his attack at the right moment on the short and crisp final climb.
Velomotion prognosis: Ulissi gets a free ride
Since tomorrow's stage is too difficult for the sprinters and too easy for the classification riders, the chances for the escapees are actually good. The wildcard teams will present themselves offensively like every day. But this time some top teams are also likely to participate in the escape. We therefore bet on a really strong and well-known stage winner. In good form, such a stage is special Diego Ulissi. The Italian is explosive and manages well over the long climb towards the middle of the stage. Of course, we also have to take into account the king of the breakaway Thomas De Gendt. But the Belgian had to work a lot on the flat stages in the past few days – including today. Luis Leon Sanchez from Spain is made for such cuts. The only question is whether he will get a free ride from Captain Alexandr Vlasov. A little insider tip could Kilian Frankiny who can climb very well, but maybe isn't explosive enough for the last kilometers.
☆☆☆ Diego Ulissi (UAE)
☆ ☆ Giovanni Visconti (Bardiani – CSF – Faizanè), thomas degendt (Lotto – Soudal)
☆ Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana-Premier Tech), Gianluca Brambilla (Trek - Segafredo), Kilian Frankiny (Qhubeka – Assos)