The riders launch themselves onto the last climb. With 5 kilometres left they plummet down a steep 1.8 kilometre hill – even touching 9% in the kilometre in the middle. They hit a flat intermezzo before the 1.5 kilometre closing climb at 5.7%. The ramps are getting steeper and the last 200 metres are as precipitous as 10.5%.
The arrival is a bit similar to Hatta Dam in the Tour of Dubai, where Juan José Lobato powered to victory in 2016 and John Degenkolb took the win two years ago.
The riders will be slightly worn out when reaching the punchy finale in Peschici. The stage amounts to 189 kilometres and halfway they stumble upon the Monte Sant’Angelo – almost 10 kilometres, mostly 6.8% -, and with 46 kilometres remaining the Coppa Santa Tecla is crested after a 3.6 kilometres climb at 6%. Following the descent the route runs in almost 30 kilometres to above-mentioned finale.
The 6th stage took in a punchy arrival, too. Cannondale-Drapac was the only team showing intent on reeling them back and when they threw the towel the break of the day could stick. Hopefully GC candidates will show their teeth this time.
Favourites stage 8 Giro d’Italia 2017
*** Adam Yates, Tom Dumoulin, Dylan Teuns, Vincenzo Nibali, Michael Woods
** Wilco Kelderman, Rui Costa, Davide Formolo, Davide Vilella
* Rudy Mollard, Tom-Jelte Slagter, Enrico Battaglin, Pierre Rolland
Giro 2017 stage 8: Route maps, height profiles, and more
Click on the images to zoom
Related articles Riders - Giro 2017 Withdrawals - Giro 2017 Favourites - Giro 2017 GC Favourites - Giro 2019 Favourites - Giro 2017 More articles Vuelta 2025: The Route
Vuelta 2025: Riders
Vuelta 2025 Route stage 1: Turin – Novara
Vuelta 2025 Route stage 2: Alba - Limone Piemonte
Vuelta 2025 Route stage 3: San Maurizio Canavese - Ceres
Vuelta a España: Winners and records
Tour de France 2025: The Route
Tour de France 2025: Riders
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 1: Lille - Lille
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 2: Lauwin-Planque - Boulogne-sur-Mer
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 3: Valenciennes - Dunkirk
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 4: Amiens - Rouen
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 5: Caen - Caen
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 7: Saint-Malo - Mûr-de-Bretagne
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 8: Saint-Méen-le-Grand - Laval
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 9: Chinon - Châteauroux
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 10: Ennezat - Le Mont-Dore
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 11: Toulouse - Toulouse
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 12: Auch - Hautacam
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 13: Loudenvielle - Peyragudes
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 15: Muret - Carcassonne
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 16: Montpellier - Mont Ventoux
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 18: Vif - Col de la Loze
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 19: Albertville - La Plagne
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 20: Nantua - Pontarlier
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 21: Mantes-la-Ville - Paris
Cycling Calendar 2025
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 14: Pau - Superbagnères
Giro 2025: The Route Rumours
Giro 2025: Riders
Tour de France Femmes 2025: The Route
Tour de France Femmes 2025 Route stage 1: Vannes - Plumelec
Tour Down Under 2025: The Route