The first half of the race travels along the Adriatic Sea. The flat roads may inspire the sprinters to day dream, but they’d better not. The Monte Sant’Angelo – 9.6 kilometres at 6.7% – appears after 90 kilometres and from there on the route goes either up or down.
With 26 kilometer remaining the riders enter a local circuit in Vieste. They’re welcomed by a short and sharp climb on the Via Saragat: 1 kilometre at 9.3% and peaking out at 17%.
After the first passage on the line there are still 14 kilometres to go. Shortly, the Via Saragat climb returns. The riders plunge down a 5 kilometres descent before the last 5 kilometres are virtually flat.
The breakaway could be successful, although other viable options are a late attack or a sprint of a reduced peloton or select group.
Favourites stage 8 Giro d’Italia 2020
*** Michael Matthews, Diego Ulissi, Peter Sagan
** Simon Clarke, Valerio Conti, Jai Hindley, Enrico Battaglin
* Gianluca Brambilla, Mikkel Bjerg, Andrea Vendrame, Mikkel Honoré
Another interesting read: route stage 8 Giro d’Italia 2020.