Stage 8 into Tariba is only 101.8km long but it is arguably the toughest day so far. The first climb, which starts as soon as the gun goes, is 13.9km long. It comes in two segments, with a fairly easy first climb, which descends shortly to the path to the summit. Most of this second path is over 10% in gradient and at the top of this there are the mountain points. After a huge descent and journey across the plain we get the toughest climb so far, and arguably the toughest climb of the race. The Altos Los Cacops is 15.6km long with a gruelling 7.1% average and a maximum gradient just shy of 13%.
Unsurprisingly the favourites are all the big climbers of the race. It may come down to a small group fighting it out, but it is hard to look past the new race leader Marquez for the win today.
Not long after the start of the race, we have the first attack of the day. Ulugbek Galiev (Cisco) was in the break on stage 3 but today’s stage suits him much better, so he launches his bid early.
Following after him are:
Riadh Ghdamsi (Kenya)
Irakli Bablidze (Bouygues)
Ivan Seledkov (Bintang)
Edward King (ING)
Bablidze is keeping up his tradition of getting in the break on every even-numbered stage. Galiev is the best placed on GC in this group, but even he is 13’49” down on Marquez’s lead so doesn’t pose much of a threat. The peloton are satisfied and let this group go.
Everyone takes it fairly easy up the first part of the climb – no one wants to burn out this early and the break aren’t even close to a threat at this point. The break power over the first part of the climb and then descend to the start of the second one, which stretches ahead of them imposingly.
There is a big fight for the remarkably points at the top. Galiev takes the points ahead of Seledkov and then Bablidze. Ghdamsi is dropping in this fight. Meanwhile, the gap back to the peloton is at 5’33”.
The long descent begins. Seledkov does most of the work up front, pushing a solid pace. On the other hand, in the peloton, HTC keep things as relaxed as possible and thus the gap hits 6’30” at the very base of the descent. HTC either aren’t too fussed by the break or they want to bring them back on the second climb.
Meanwhile, Ghdamsi gets himself back into the break just after the descent finishes. He is surely tired after that descent, however.
The break of course aren’t interested in the sprint points. It seems they have all agreed to reward Ghdamsi for his chase, however, as they let him roll over first. King and Bablidze are behind him. This sprint marks 53km remaining and the gap is at a whopping 6’58”.
In the peloton Mudarra (BNCR) falls but no one goes down with him. He will try to get back but this close to the final climb, it doesn’t seem likely. HTC aren’t setting a particularly tough pace as the peloton hit this climb, however.
With 12km of climbing left for the peloton the gap is out to 7’50”, meaning that things are looking great for the break. It also implies that the pace is very low and as always that means people are going to try to risk an attack. As they hit a steep section Colex (BNCR) and Monsalve (Hollister) both attack.
Following these two is another trio:
Bricero (Repsol)
Solis (Bouygues)
Esquivel (BNCR)
These five riders all get together and form a group, powering away from the peloton. Then Ochoa Quintero (Hollister) launches his own attack. Things have picked up pace behind him and so he can’t quite get away as well.
Ochoa Quintero pulls out about a 30” gap and the other late attackers are another 1’30” ahead, a gap which just keeps growing. Once again Lachlan Morton (HTC) must work hard in the absence of other domestiques.
Ardila Cano (Repsol) and Salas (BNCR) both put in an attack now. Rather than getting away, however, they merely increase the pace of the peloton and thus they cause Ochoa Quintero to be caught. HTC will surely be pleased with that result.
Meanwhile the break are only 5km from the summit. They have a 6 minute lead over the peloton but the 5 late attackers are halfway across that gap.
Back to the peloton and Ochoa Quintero clearly won’t be deterred, however, and he immediately launches another attack, this time being followed by white jersey wearer Aru (ING).
This time Goos (HTC) does the work to bring them back and just as they come back into the fold there is a new set of attackers:
Suaza (Bouygues)
Camano (Kenya)
Izagirre (LukOil)
And of course Ochoa Quintero follows this one too.
Camano has clearly recovered from whatever was causing him to have a poor day yesterday. Well, at least it seemed that way for a moment, but he is dropped by this group of attackers. There isn’t much time to think about this, however, as race leader Marquez launches his attack!
Without much trouble at all he rides up to the other three attackers, making a group of four.
Of course such an attack is not going to go without reactions from other GC contenders. A group forms behind Marquez:
Ndbri (Kenya)
Nicacio (Prio)
Mendes (Prio)
Pellizotti (WWE)
Aru (ING)
Salas (BNCR)
This attack splinters somewhat, with Ndbri, Nicacio and Pellizotti staying together while the others fall off their pace. Meanwhile, after such a fabulous day out front things are looking grim for the break. The group of Solis is breathing down their necks.
They are so close to the summit and as such they aren’t going to just give in. Galiev leads a new attack, with Seledkov enthusiastically joining it initially. Ultimately all 5 stay together, extending their gap slightly.
To show just how much the gaps have closed up, the group of Marquez now catches up to the group of Solis, creating a nine man chase group. They still have a decent gap over those who are chasing them. In fact the Nicacio, Ndbri and Pellizotti have also been joined by Rodrigues (Hollister), who has put in a tremendous effort to fight up to them.
Over the summit, Seledkov takes the maximum points. Galiev is second and Bablidze again must settle for third.
There have been numerous attacks out of the peloton, confusing matters somewhat. As such let’s check the gaps over the top:
46"
1'04"
32"
11"
14"
56"
3'43"
Break (5)
--->
Marquez
--->
Rodrigues
--->
Ard. Cano
--->
Aru
--->
Camano
--->
P (48)
Izagirre
Ndbri
Salas
Suaza
Nicacio
6 Others
Pellizotti
As the descent starts, Aru and Camano both manage to catch up to Ardilla Cano and Salas, allowing them to work together to at least stay ahead of the peloton.
As has seemed inevitable for a while now, the break is caught. There are 19km left to ride but with a lead group of 14 men it might be possible to stay away, which would extend Marquez’s lead over several rivals such as Pellizotti.
Once again on the downhill, Nicacio does the lion’s share of the work. This seems like déjà vu of yesterday’s stage. They are 33” behind the lead group with 10km remaining as well as 55” ahead of the Camano group.
With 6km remaining the race moves on to the flat for the run-in to the finish line. It is here that the 2nd group on the road manages to catch up to the leaders, making it a lead group of 18 riders. Once again Hollister have done terrifically well to get 3 riders into the lead group.
With 2km left Nicacio opens up the racing to the line. Marquez is near the front, just as the Kenya Airways riders and the riders from Bouygues Telecom. There is still a decent gap back to the second group on the road.
Under the banner Marquez hits the front. Could he take his first stage of this race here?
He fades fairly quickly. Ochoa Quintero comes through with speed and what’s this? On his shoulder is King, who has spent all day at the head of the race. He is one of the key lead-out men for Kip and thus can sprint well himself!
A gap opens up between the two of them as King comes right up equal with Ochoa Quintero. But with speed coming between the two of them is Rodrigues!
And Vitor Rodrigues takes the win for Hollister!
In second place is Pellizotti. Those bonus seconds will prove valuable. Monsalve is in third today, putting two Hollister riders on the podium. Colex has a great performance for fourth, while King, who looked so good for a moment there, will have to settle for fifth. Ochoa Quintero puts yet another Hollister rider in a scoring position. Suaza takes seventh, Esquivel recovers after yesterday’s performance to take eighth and Seledkov and Marquez round out the top 10.
And looking at the jerseys – we have a new leader! Pellizotti’s bonus seconds puts him exactly equal with Marquez and Pellizotti takes the leader’s jersey on a count back! WWE will surely be thrilled! Camano narrowly keeps his mountain jersey. Monsalve pulls some time back in the young rider competition but Aru still keeps hold of it. Finally, Hollister extend their lead again in the team competition.
