Vuelta 2019 Favourites stage 8: Sprinters or (late) attackers
The 8th stage on La Vuelta is a rolling ride. The sprint teams should be able to control the race, although the Puerto de Montserrat appears with 35 kilometres left. Are the fast men going to survive the 8.2 kilometres climb? (Slideshow route/profile)
The Puerto de Montserrat is 8.2 kilometres long and the average gradient sits at 6.9%. The descent begins a kilometre after the summit and leads the riders to a flat run-in of 10 kilometres into Igualada.
Is the pay-off worth the investment? Obviously, this question will loom large in the buses of the sprint teams. Pure sprinters are sure to crack on the Puerto de Montserrat, but the likes of Bo Hagen might stand a chance. A fast descent could repair possible damage.
If sprint teams don’t feel tempted to control the break, odds are that (late) attackers will get the spoils. Although a sprint with a reduced peloton is another possibility.
Favourites 8th stage 2019 Vuelta a España
*** Philippe Gilbert, Valerio Conti, Tao Geoghegan Hart
** Edvald Boasson Hagen, Luka Mezgec, John Degenkolb, Sam Bennett
* Thomas De Gendt, Luis León Sánchez, Patrick Bevin, Ben King
Take a look at the route of the 8th stage of La Vuelta.
Vuelta a España 2019 stage 8: profile and finale
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