Top Mañana: Vuelta a España – stage 8

Top Mañana: Vuelta a España – stage 8

Each stage, the Rouleur panel of ‘experts’ will give their picks for the following day’s race. Top tipster Cycling Mole, meanwhile, will dismantle our choices and give his own prediction for the likely winner. Who will win?

Bouhanni la vuelta Racing steve cummings Viviani Vuelta a Espana Vuelta a Espana 2018

Each stage, the Rouleur panel of ‘experts’ will give their picks for the following day’s race.

David Hunter, AKA Cycling Mole, is a top tipster who spends far more time studying the odds than we do. In a daily battle of wits, Team Rouleur will give their predictions before Moley runs his scathing eye over them and comes up with his own. Who will win? 

Stage 8: 195km, Linares to Almadén

 

Hugo Gladstone

Elia Viviani – Quick Step

There’s a bit of resistance in the slope of the last 4km but not enough to have the sprinters doubting themselves. Not very imaginative, but I’ve got first dibs, so I’m going to have to go with Elia Viviani again.

Hannah Troop

Nacer Bouhanni – Cofidis

He has to get at least one more stage, right?

Andy McGrath

Matteo Trentin – Mitchelton-Scott

This nagging uphill finish will favour the Italian. If Sagan falters, expect the Mitchelton man to profit. 

Ian Cleverly

Steve Cummings – Dimension Data

He’s not exactly set the world alight this season but Cummings has not forgotten how to win a stage. Hopefully inspired by Ben King’s excellent stage 4 victory, I’m backing the king of the back of the pack lurkers to hit the front once again. 

Nick Christian

Pello Bilbao – Astana
I think the finish is too tricky for the real fast guys, so I’m following in Ian’s footsteps by going with a likeable longshot who also happens to be a capable all-rounder. I know exactly what the Mole is going to say and I don’t care. 

Cycling Mole

This is designated a sprint stage, but in classic Vuelta style, it is a little complicated. The final 2km kicks up to 4% and the riders end the stage on a narrow uphill road. Not only that, but they have a switchback with around 300m to go. Riders should be concerned with three things: positioning, positioning, positioning. 

Hugo – the man had first pick and goes with Viviani, I think we’d all have done the same. After making a royal mess of the last sprint, the Wolf Pack will be hungry for success. 

Hannah – the pick of Bouhanni is the form selection. After an awful season, he took a brilliant win on Thursday. Sprinting is 90% confidence, that should help him.

Andy – the choice of Trentin frustrates me. The Italian was brilliant in 2017, but he’s failed to live up to those expectations in 2018. I would be amazed if he wins a stage in this race.

Ian – the classic Cummings pick. The man who punters continue to waste good money on. Expect to see big Stevo come home in last place.

Nick – he might not care, but here goes… Nick has picked Pello Bilbao. We’ve had some dodgy selections this week, but this takes the biscuit! The Basque rider is clearly out of form and having a poor race. There you go, Nick. 

My pick – has to be Viviani. The Italian will be smarting after Thursday’s performance and he has the power required for the uphill sprint.

 

The post Top Mañana: Vuelta a España – stage 8 appeared first on The world's finest cycling magazine.

Bouhanni la vuelta Racing steve cummings Viviani Vuelta a Espana Vuelta a Espana 2018

READ MORE

Turning a corner: Is the Ineos Grenadiers's flurry of victories a sign of things to come?

Turning a corner: Is the Ineos Grenadiers's flurry of victories a sign of things to come?

Wins from Egan Bernal, Michał Kwiatkowski, and Josh Tarling have delivered the team's most prolific months since June last year – but can it propel...

Leggi di più
Fabio Jakobsen: This is how you make sprints safer

Fabio Jakobsen: This is how you make sprints safer

As the first big sprints battles of the year take place at the UAE Tour, Picnic PostNL’s Fabio Jakobsen has an idea of how to...

Leggi di più
Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig for MNSTRY

Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig: ‘I want to be back racing with my heart’

The Danish rider has signed a two-year contract with CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto, changing her training, fuelling and mindset in order to get back on top of the...

Leggi di più
Tadej Pogačar at the 2024 Il Lombardia

UAE Tour 2025 preview and contenders: Can anyone deny Pogačar?

A raft of top sprinters are lining up to vie for stage victories in the year's second WorldTour stage race

Leggi di più
Demi Vollering 2025

Is FDJ-Suez the team that can help Demi Vollering to Tour de France Femmes redemption?

There are big changes for the Dutch rider in 2025 - will they pay off? Or could leadership issues arise again? 

Leggi di più

READ RIDE REPEAT

JOIN ROULEUR TODAY

Get closer to the sport than ever before.

Enjoy a digital subscription to Rouleur for just £4 per month and get access to our award-winning magazines.

SUBSCRIBE