Stage 8

Saturday 15 May - At 170 kilometres, the 8th stage of the Giro d'Italia travels from Foggia to an uphill finale in Guardia Sanframondi. The route takes in an elevation gain of 3,400 metres.

Foggia hosted the Giro 35 times before, although the last visit was awhile ago – in 1999. Romans Vainšteins sprinted to victory in Foggia before the race went to Laciano the next day, where Jeroen Blijlevens took the spoils.

A sprint finish is not to be expected in stage 8. On the contrary, a number of intermediate climbs will make it a hard day for the fast men. The gradients are never excessive, but still.

The longest ascent is the Bocca della Selva. One could argue that it is a climb in two parts. The first 15 kilometres go up at 5% before the riders turn left and enter the last section to the summit: 3.8 kilometres at 3.5%.

Still 50 kilometres to go after the Bocca della Selva, almost 40 of which fly downhill. A false flat section and short drop lead onto the finish climb. Starting in Telese Terme, the ascent to the line is 11 kilometres long. The first part rises false flat, the last 3 kilometres go up at 7.6% before it levels out to 4.4% in the last 500 metres.

The second intermediate sprint – 6.1 kilometres before the line – comes with 3, 2 and 1 seconds, while time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds are awarded to the first three riders on the line.

The 8th stage of the Giro d’Italia starts at 12.40 and the race is expected to finish around 17.15 – both are local times (CEST).