Rafal Majka showed today that he is a force to be reckoned with at the Giro d’Italia, after a strong performance saw him matching every pedal stroke of his GC rivals as they attempted to create time gaps on the Alpe di Poti gravel climb. Rafal’s excellent ride earnt him eleventh on the stage, and sees him move into the top ten of the GC, climbing to eighth overall.
Stage 8 saw the much-anticipated gravel climb at this year’s Giro d’Italia. The 186km route from Foligno to Arezzo looked innocent enough on the profile, with two categorised climbs and an otherwise flat parcours, but today all eyes would be on the Alpe di Poti – the second category ascent cresting a little under 20km from the end of the stage. It was here that gradients would reach up to 14% and riders would have the added challenge of gravel to contend with.
The day’s racing started nervously – the unknown quantity that was the late climb forcing teams to reconsider their strategy for the day. While a break attempted to get away early on, it wasn’t until almost 70km had passed that a second had built enough of an advantage to keep the peloton at bay. This group of thirteen started to build their advantage, reaching more than 4’30”.
The pace was exceptionally high from the drop of the flag, as Sport Director, Tristan Hoffman, noted from the finish. “It was full gas to start and there was a little climb that wasn’t even mentioned as an official one, but the peloton split. There were 30 or so guys in front, and some GC favourites in the second group, but they pushed hard and came back, and then the break went. We didn’t get anyone in the move, but we stayed in the front after and got Rafal into position for the climb.”
At such a high pace – with speeds averaging 46.9km/h – the break started to splinter as the day went on, and with 38km remaining, riders began to be dropped, a little before the Alpe di Poti.
It was on the final climb of the day that Rafal Majka made his presence known – joining a select group of GC favourites with the Maglia Rosa absent, quickly creating a gap. While Rafal’s GC rivals in the group repeatedly attacked to try and go clear, the Polish Tinkoff leader managed to match every pedal stroke, so no-one was able to break free.
With the Maglia Rosa minutes behind, the end of the stage would bring with it some changes to the GC standings. As the solo breakaway took the stage win, the fight for the leader’s jersey raged behind as the chasers hit flat roads. Rafal finished the stage just outside the top ten, in eleventh position, after an exceptionally strong ride that saw him jump up to eighth place on GC.
Hoffman knew the team was prepared for the race’s challenging final climb and made sure Rafal had support if he needed it. “We had a lot of people on the climb with wheels but in the end they weren’t needed, and all was OK.”
“We have seen a very strong Rafal today – it’s very good to see him move into the top ten and racing at the front. When the bigger mountains come it will be even better. He was there with the big guys and looked easy when covering the moves, and now he’s eighth on GC so he’s moving up and it’s going to plan.”
Matteo Tosatto echoed his Sport Director’s comments. “It was a tough stage with a high pace right from the start. It rained in the first climb and descend and that made it tricky. We managed to keep Rafal safe and in the front and that was important. I see he’s in good shape and is moving in the GC. However, we will take it a day at a time.”
There was another reason to celebrate today, with a birthday on the team, as Hoffman explained. “It was also a nice day with Matteo’s birthday – we had Pawel’s birthday in Holland, and our kitchen truck driver’s birthday yesterday too so it’s nice for the team here. Everyone is in good spirits.”
Matteo was pleased with his birthday performance, having suffered with some illness recently. “Today was, obviously, a very important day for me because I turned 42. I’m not at my optimal form because of the cold I have and my fall. Tomorrow, I will have to be careful and I’m confident I will be able to give my best after the rest day.”
Tomorrow, riders will contest the first Individual Time Trial since the Giro’s start in the Netherlands. Unlike the flat roads of Apeldoorn, the 40.5km ‘Chianti Classico’ route from Radda to Greve covers an undulating course with fast descents over twisting roads, punctuated by short, sharp climbs. Riders will have no time to rest on the stage, having to give it their all to keep GC rivals in check. Hoffman added: “Tomorrow we have the time trial, we will go and have a look at the parcours in the morning and then see how it goes. Rafal will lose some time to the specialists but he has good legs so I think he can hold his own in the GC.”
Stage Result
1. Gianluca Brambilla (ITA) Etixx-Quick Step 04:14:05
2. Matteo Montaguti (ITA) AG2R La Mondiale +00:01:06
3. Moreno Moser (ITA) Cannondale Pro Cycling +00:01:27
4. Jaco Venter (RSA) Dimension Data +00:01:28
5. Alessandro De Marchi (ITA) BMC Racing Team +00:01:33
11. Rafal Majka (POL) Tinkoff +00:01:44
36. Manuele Boaro (ITA) Tinkoff +00:02:45
45. Ivan Rovny (RUS) Tinkoff +00:05:05
55. Jay McCarthy (AUS) Tinkoff +00:08:02
60. Pawel Poljanski (POL) Tinkoff +00:08:02
70. Evgeny Petrov (RUS) Tinkoff +00:10:05
79. Jesus Hernandez (SPA) Tinkoff +00:12:10
107. Pavel Brutt (RUS) Tinkoff +00:18:05
109. Matteo Tosatto (ITA) Tinkoff +00:18:05
GC After Stage 8
1. Gianluca Brambilla (ITA) Etixx-Quick Step 33:39:14
2. Ilnur Zakarin (RUS) Team Katusha +00:00:23
3. Steven Kruiswijk (NED) Team Lotto NL-Jumbo +00:00:33
4. Alejandro Valverde (SPA) Movistar Team +00:00:45
5. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA) Astana Pro Team +00:00:48
8. Rafal Majka (POL) Tinkoff +00:00:54
38. Pawel Poljanski (POL) Tinkoff +00:09:53
44. Ivan Rovny (RUS) Tinkoff +00:14:41
51. Evgeny Petrov (RUS) Tinkoff +00:17:57
58. Manuele Boaro (ITA) Tinkoff +00:22:42
64. Jay McCarthy (AUS) Tinkoff +00:26:34
100. Jesus Hernandez (SPA) Tinkoff +00:38:58
111. Pavel Brutt (RUS) Tinkoff +00:42:33
128. Matteo Tosatto (ITA) Tinkoff +00:46:30
