Tour de France 2021 Favourites stage 8: Climbers with fast descent

image: Cor VosStage 8 of the Tour de France suits attackers with climbing skills and a fast descent. But given the time bonuses in the finale, GC riders could also opt to attack. After three trying ascents in the lasts 50 kilometres the race ends with a downhill into Le Grand-Bornand. (Slideshow route/profile)

The 8th stage is a lumpy race with a mountainous finale. The ascents are relatively easy until kilometre 100, but the last 50 kilometres are something else entirely. The riders crest the Côte de Mont-Saxonnex (5.7 kilometres at 8.3%), Col de Romme (8.8 kilometres at 8.9%) and Col de la Colombière (7.5 kilometres at 8.5%) before the route descends into Le Grand-Bornand.

The Tour de France saw the same finale three editions ago. Breakaway boy Alaphilippe soloed to triumph that day.

Since the race finishes downhill one could argue that GC riders will want to keep their powder dry. On the other hand, Alaphilippe and Pogacar are among the best descenders of the peloton. They could opt to go on the attack on the Colombière and finish it off with a brilliant descent. Furthermore, the first rider over the summit of the last climb gains a time bonus of 8 seconds, while the stage winner takes 10 seconds.

A sprint of a decimated peloton could also be on the cards.

Favourites stage 8 Tour de France 2021

*** Julian Alaphilippe, Tadej Pogacar, Wout van Aert
** Pello Bilbao, Ion Izagirre, Michael Woods, Jakob Fuglsang
* Jonas Vingegaard, Alejandro Valverde, Warren barguil, Alexey Lutsenko

Another interesting read: route 8th stage 2021 Tour de France.