Friday, April 25, 2025

Il Giro d’Italia 2014 – Stage 8; Foligno – Montecopiolo, 174 km. Diego Ulissi Scores a Second!

-

HomeRaceRace ReviewsIl Giro d'Italia 2014 - Stage 8; Foligno - Montecopiolo, 174 km....

Diego Ulissi

Diego Ulissi (Lampre & Italy); if the broader world of cycling didn’t really know who he was before this Giro – they do now.

His first win on Stage Five wasn’t a surprise if you were aware of his terrific end to last season – Milano-Torino, the Coppa Sabatini and the Giro dell’Emilia.

Three Italian semi-classics – all very desirable and hard fought – ‘tough and hilly’ is right up his street.

But Saturday was different, the real deal, first and second cat. montagnes; and just look at who he beat – Evans, Uran, Quintana, Pozzovivo…

As Kris said, it restores your faith in bike racing.

Diego Ulissi
Diego Ulissi takes his second stage. Phoot©Gian Mattia D’Alberti

We were a bit worried at the start, not more of that ‘polemica’ stuff, please!

But once the Bigs had accepted that Matthews wasn’t going to be defending the jersey the race could begin in earnest – however, not before ten men had bolted to nine minutes.

This wasn’t going to be an ‘Oscar Pereiro Job’ where the break goes to 27 minutes, though and the peloton chipped away at the lead all day.

For a long, long time it looked like tiny Trek Colombian Julian David Arredondo was going to survive his long day in the break and take a marvellous solo win.

Diego Ulissi
David Arredondo. Photo©Fabio Ferrari

But when Europcar’s enigmatic Frenchman Pierre Rolland bridged to him it looked like another French Giro stage win to go with Bouhanni’s as the little Colombian collapsed within sight of the line.

He’ll have sore legs tomorrow.

But it’s always easy to underestimate of the venom of a peloton in the finale and it was Spaniard Dani Moreno who catapulted out of the lead group to catch and pass Rolland.

Revenge for all the Katusha’s ill fortune?

No chance, there are few fairy tales in the Pro Tour.

Croatian champion and one of our favourites for the race, Robert Kiserlovski looked like he was going to make up for Arredondo’s pain and keep the stage for Trek.

When we identified the Lampre rider on his wheel as Ulissi we knew there would only be one winner.

We got a couple of things right today; the end for Michael Matthews (GreenEdge & Australia) was indeed sudden and horrible: Cadel Evans (BMC & Australia) takes pink and we’re pretty smug about two of our ‘left field’ tips – Aru and Kiserlovski – being right up there.

Diego Ulissi
Cadel Evans take the lead. Photo©Fabio Ferrari

It was a great day then for Evans and Ulissi but a horrible day for Astana’s former winner, Michele Scarponi who lost a chunk of time.

But it simplifies things for Aru and the Astana management – there’s no doubt now about who the team should ride for.

If Ulissi was a big surprise, so was Belkin’s Dutchman, Wilco Kelderman; third on the stage and he now sits seventh on GC.

Diego Ulissi
Wilco Kelderman. Photo©AFP

AG2R must be disappointed that their sterling work – without them Rolland may well have won – couldn’t be finished off by their Domenico Pozzovivo (Italy).

But like I’ve said before; it’s easy from the sofa and as Evans reminded us, everyone is already tired from the transfer, long stages, wind, rain and stress.

Colombian race favourites Rigoberto Uran (QuickStep) and Nairo Quintana (Movistar) didn’t sparkle today but they’ll be remembering that this is only stage eight – and that final week is a horror.

Let’s take a quick look at it…

* * *

The Final Week – what’s in store

Stage 15 is 217 kilometres; the profile could have been drawn by a child, nice and flat along the bottom of the page until the end and then suddenly rearing straight up to finish on 1665 metres altitude at Plan Di Montecampione.

The rest day follows but everyone’s mind will be on Stage 16 with two legendary climbs and a third good hard slap in the face to finish; the Passo Gavia at 2,618 m. Passo Stelvio 2,758 m. and a mountain top finish at the 2,059 m. at Val Martello all within 139 K.

If you crack today, as many will, it’s over.

Stage 18 has the Passo San Pelligrino at 1,918 m. and a mountain top finish at 1.760 m. at Valsugana over 171 K.

Stage 19 is a chrono – but most low pros will stay in the mechanics’ truck.

At the end of 26.8 K of pain the contenders will be at the top of the Cima Grappa and at 1,712 m. altitude.

Not the day to have bad legs.

Stage 20’s delights include the Passo Del Purra at 1,428 m. and the Sella Razio at 1,816 m.

And there’s a sting in the tail with Monte Zoncolan at 1,730 m. – a savage swine of an ascent.

Upon which the organisers will be hoping for a 2013 Angliru Horner/Nibali cliff hanger finale…

And if you’re a rider, it’s sobering to remember that the Zoncolan is still two weeks away.

Last word is the ‘D’ one – Nero Sottoli’s right to be on the race is questioned but the stage is dedicated to Pantani; and we have to listen to Greg Lemond eulogising about a man who rarely raced clean.

Don’t worry, It’ll all work out for the best when you snuff it, Lance.

Ed Hood
Ed Hood
Ed was involved in cycling for over 50 years. In that time he was a successful time triallist, a team manager and a sponsor of several teams and clubs. He was also a respected and successful coach and during the winter months often worked in the cabins at the Six Days for some of the world's top riders. Ed was a highly respected journalist, his tales of chasing the Giro, Tour, Vuelta, Classics and World Championships - and his much-loved winter Six Days - are legendary, never the same twice, they gave our site an edge other cycling media could never duplicate or challenge. Sadly Ed passed away in January 2025, two years after suffering a devastating stroke.

Related Articles

Le Tour de France 2016 – Stage 12; Montpellier – Mont Ventoux. De Gendt Wins Amidst the Chaos

First of all, a fantastic win by Thomas De Gendt (Lotto-Soudal), let’s say that first and foremost. The Belgian was away all day then won the sprint from another two survivors of the big break of the day. As a bonus, he takes the polka dot jersey, too. De Gendt He's tamed the Stelvio and (most of) the Ventoux - he just needs to win on the Angleru now...

The Lake APR 2007

The Lake APR: 63 riders took to the start on a bitterly cold - but dry - morning in the village of Bulclyvie. Split into six groups, with a fast scratch which included the previous week's Rosneath winner, Gordon Murdoch of East Kilbride Road Club, as well as the inform Paul Coates of Squadra Via Mazzini Racetool, myself: Stuart Macgregor and Edge pairing of Paul Rennie and Graham McGarritty (who won this race 25 years ago when still a junior!).

La Vuelta a España 2014 – Stage 3; Cádiz – Arcos de la Frontera, 188 km. Another Jersey For Michael Matthews

We’re feeling a bit smug, this morning, on the eve of Stage Three we said; ‘It could be one for the breakaway but GreenEDGE may control it for Clarke and Michael Matthews – and maybe Yates?’ And they man they call ‘Bling’ due to his penchant for jewellery proved us correct. The 23 year-old from Canberra again proved that in an uphill finish, if his motivation is good – there’s a little question mark over his grinta - then he’s very hard to beat.

RTTC 10 Mile Championship goes to John Archibald, by 3 seconds!

An RTTC championship in Scotland? VeloVeritas couldn’t miss that – on the way down I was thinking about opening lines; ‘Marcin Bialoblocki gives himself as a birthday present a clean sweep of all CCT titles from 10 to 100 miles' but John Archibald was having none of it and pulled off the testing surprise of the year.

At Random

Joanna Rowsell – Olympic Champion!

Continuing our series of interviews with Olympians past and present, we talk to Olympic team pursuit champion, Joanna Rowsell.

Gent Six Day 2010 – Fourth Night, Big Bob and Danny Take Over

I'm working at the Gent Six Day 2010, and last year's Under 25 winner, big Aussie, Alex Carver just landed on the boards, somewhere close to my right ear.

Grenoble Six Day 2009 – Day One; Settling in

I'm sitting beside the track, it's nearly 3:00 pm and last night seems like a long time ago. Gianni Meersman and Iljo Keisse are up training, they rattle past every 20 seconds - legs have to be kept loose.

Ben Swift – Team Ineos Stalwart is National Road Champion 2019

Ben Swift launched a monster kick, leaving Scot, John Archibald to the bronze then zooming past teammate Ian Stannard on his blindside in the streets of Norwich to arrive at the line in solitary splendour and unleash a mighty roar of triumph and relief. We caught up with him at his Isle of Man home on the Tuesday after his win...