Giro 2025 Favourites stage 8: Attackers in the Apennines

foto: Cor VosA day featuring nearly 3,800 metres of climbing, with the major ascents coming well before the finish. The finale dishes up a series of short, sharp climbs followed by a descent to the line. On paper, this one looks tailor-made for the breakaway. (Slideshow route/profile)

The roads go up and down all day, starting with a long stretch of false flat. The riders then take on the Croce di Casale (8.6 kilometres at 4.6%, summit after 60.9 kilometres), the Valico di Santa Maria Maddalena (13.2 kilometres at 7.2%, summit after 105.3 kilometres), and the climb to Montelago (5.5 kilometres at 7%, summit after 152.1 kilometres).

Once through Montelago, the major ascents are done and dusted, but there are still 45 kilometres left to race. The first half of that is a descent, followed by an intriguing finale.

It kicks off with a 1.3-kilometre climb at 7.4% to Castel Santa Maria, while the last real obstacle is a sharp ramp in Gagliole: 500 metres at a punishing 11.9%. From there, it’s a 3-kilometre drop to Castelraimondo, with the final kilometre including a short uphill drag.

With the big climbs coming far from the finish line and a finale with little to gain for them, it’s unlikely the GC favourites will go for the stage win. That opens the door for a group of attackers to make the most of a day in the Apennines. Puncheurs with strong descending skills will have the edge in a finale like this.

Favourites 8th stage 2025 Giro d’Italia

*** Wout Poels, Pello Bilbao, Paul Double
** Koen Bouwman, Filippo Zana, Marco Frigo, Quinten Hermans
* Wilco Kelderman, Mathias Vacek, Carlos Verona, Rémy Rochas

Another interesting read: route 8th stage 2025 Giro.