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.
Tour de France 2021 stage 8: profiles & finish route
Click on the images to zoom
Watch the highlights of recent races here:
Leave a comment
1 comment(s)
Related articles Route stage 8: Oyonnax - Le Grand-Bornand - Tour de France 20 The Route - Tour de France 20 Riders - Tour de France 20 Withdrawals - Tour de France 20 Favourites - Tour de France 20 GC Favourites - Tour de France 20 More articles Vuelta 2022: The Route
Vuelta 2022 Route stage 6: Bilbao - Pico del Jano
Vuelta 2022 Route stage 8: Pola de Laviana - Collado Fancuaya
Vuelta 2022 Route stage 9: Villaviciosa - Les Praeres
Vuelta 2022 Route stage 12: Salobreña - Peñas Blancas
Vuelta 2022 Route stage 14: Montoro - Sierra de la Pandera
Vuelta 2022 Route stage 15: Martos - Sierra Nevada
Giro 2022: The Route
Giro 2022: Riders
Giro 2022 Route stage 1: Budapest - Viségrad
Giro 2022 Route stage 2: Budapest ITT
Giro 2022 Route stage 3: Kaposvár – Balatonfüred
Giro 2022 Route stage 4: Avola - Etna
Giro 2022 Route stage 9: Isernia - Blockhaus
Giro 2022 Route stage 16: Salò - Aprica
Giro 2022 Route stage 20: Belluno - Passo Fedaia
Tour de France 2022: The Route
Tour de France 2022: Riders
Tour de France 2022 Route stage 1: Copenhagen - Copenhagen
Tour de France 2022 Route stage 2: Roskilde - Nyborg
Tour de France 2022 Route stage 3: Vejle - Sønderborg
Tour de France 2022 Route stage 5: Lille - Arenberg
Tour de France 2022 Route stage 7: Tomblaine - La Planche des Belles Filles
Tour de France 2022 Route stage 10: Morzine - Megève
Tour de France 2022 Route stage 11: Albertville - Col du Granon
Tour de France 2022 Route stage 12: Briançon - Alpe d'Huez
Tour de France 2022 Route stage 17: Saint-Gaudens - Peyragudes
Tour de France 2022 Route stage 18: Lourdes - Hautacam
Tour de France 2022 Route stage 20: Lacapelle-Marival - Rocamadour
Cycling Calendar 2022
Time to change some predictions. Hirschi and Roglic unlikely to fight tomorrow