Domenico Pozzovivo (Colnago CSF) won Stage 8 arriving at the finish line alone in Lago Laceno after attacking on the slopes of the Colle Mollela. Pozzovivo is even better suited to much steeper climbs, he won the 3rd stage of the 2012 Giro del Trentino which concluded with a finishing climb of Punto Veleno and was the GC winnner, but when he attacked on the Colle Mollela no one could go with him. Spaniards Intxausti (at 22") and Purito Rodriguez at 27" finished 2nd and 3rd.
Q&A with Pozzovivo after the stage:
Q. Do you think you can win this Giro?
A. I feel maybe a little 'too' small to think so big, we live day by day and try to do something better each day.
Q. What do you think of this year's Giro?
A. It was erroneously described as a Giro easier than in the past. I would call it more humane than that of 2011 but it is still very demanding.
Q. Favorite climbs?
A. My favorite climbs are: Mortirolo, Giau and Punta Veleno. The ones I like less so are Zoncolan and Mortirolo. I have a love/hate relationship with the Tre Cime di Lavaredo.
Q. What do you fear?
A. In general, I fear all descents when they are wet or if they are like dirt in the stage of Orvieto last year. If I have to name a couple I would say Vivione and the Gavia.
Q. What do you think of when you are climbing?
A. I think of music and take energy from that.
Q. What do you think of the last week?
A. I've improved this past week so I have reason to believe that I can do well in the last, hard, week.
Canadian Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Barracuda)will remain in the pink jersey after a hard stage. "It's been a demanding day", said Hesjedal who had a puncture with 24 km to go and had a hard chase to get back to the peloton. "I had to commit fully to defending the pink jersey. Once past the steepest part I felt better. It's been said that I'm not here to win the Giro but that is incorrect and I want to emphasize that. I came to the Giro to do my best and I think that until now I'm showing that as the leader of the race. We'll see what develops in the next stages." Hesjedal, from Victoria, British Columbia, also revealed one of his training secrets saying, "In 2005 I went on vacation to Maui and I brought my bike with me. I found good roads to train on and now I live there in the winter. It's one of the best decisions of my career. I kept improving gradually every year to the level where I am now. It's always been one of my secrets, but maybe not anymore ..."
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If a Canadian can beat the guy whom I predicted to wear pink in Milano - Joaquim Rodriguez - then I say go Ryder, Go Canada! Bring a grand tour championship back to Canada! :D
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