39 km – Simon Geschke takes the lead at the top of Croce Abbio
The German from the Cofidis team takes nine points at the top of the Croce Abbio, a 3rd category pass, ahead of Georg Steinhauser.
42 km – Alaphilippe picks up
Julian Alaphilippe and Alessandro De Marchi got back on the lead, taking advantage of a declining pace in the breakaway.
44 km – Alaphilippe released
The Frenchman was in the breakaway of the day but he is being let go, just like Alessandro De Marchi (Team Jayco-AlUla).
47km – The result of the Intergiro sprint
1. Romain BARDET, 3” bonuses
2. Georg STEINHAUSER, 2”
3. Magnus SHEFFIELD, 1”
50km – We approach Passo Capannelle
A 3rd category climb on the program, before a long descent towards the last difficulty of the day. 1’30” ahead for the leading group.
56km – It smells bad for the men in front
Unless there is a restart, there should be no good story for the escapees of the day. The peloton is now 1’15” behind, and has therefore gained more than a minute in fifteen kilometers.
63km – The gap is decreasing
More than 2′ lead for the escapees. The UAE Emirates have decided to control this stage…
70km – In the direction of Passo Capannelle
Before the final climb, the runners will also have to climb the Passo Capannelle (8.1km at 4.7%). The percentages won’t be very high but it could help recapture the breakaway. The summit will be located 30km from the finish.
75km – 2’30” apart
This is enough to give a little hope to the breakaway. We would need at least this gap at the foot of the final climb to hope for victory against Tadej Pogacar and the others.
79 km – The breakaway takes advantage of the descent
The peloton takes no risks on the descent, where the breakaway gives itself a little more. 2 minutes apart.
85km – Bad understanding at the front
The breakaway cannot agree. She is under pressure with the peloton less than two minutes away.
90km – UAE Emirates maintains the gap
The breakaway doesn’t manage to pass the two-minute mark, it doesn’t necessarily look very good for stage victory…
96km – Junction at 14
The composition of the leading group: Jhonatan Narvaez, Magnus Sheffield (Ineos Grenadiers), Alessandro Verre (Arkéa-B&B Hôtels), Henok Mulubrhan (Astana), Simon Geschke (Cofidis), Georg Steinhauser (EF Education – Easy Post), Nairo Quintana , Pelayo Sanchez (Movistar), Romain Bardet (dsm-Firmenich Post NL), Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal-QuickStep), Alessandro De Marchi (Jayco-AlUla), Michael Storer (Tudor), Martin Marcellusi (VF Group – Bardiani).
107km – Alaphilippe joins the race lead
They are now 8 up front with the returns of Julian Alaphilippe, Alessandro Verre, Jhonatan Narvaez and Magnus Sheffield.
108km – The gap widens with the peloton
The Romain Bardet group is more than two minutes ahead. It remains to be seen whether other teams will not come and help the UAE Emirates since the Frenchman could be a threat for the podium.
114 km – Geschke takes the lead at the summit
We let Simon Geschke take the points at the first summit. Alessandro Verre and Magnus Sheffield came out from the counter, as did Julian Alaphilippe and Jhonatan Narvaez a little further away.
115km – Valentin Paret-Peintre joins the trio
So there are two French and two Germans at the front. Julian Alaphilippe is in a counter at 45 seconds including Nairo Quintana, Jhonatan Narvaez and Michael Storer. The peloton is at 1’30”.
118 km – Bardet in a leading trio
The Frenchman is accompanied by the Germans Georg Steinhauser and Simon Geschke. The peloton is a minute late. We don’t seem to want to let Bardet slip away.
127km – Bardet on the attack
The Frenchman is with a teammate in this Forca Capistrello, trying to distance himself from the peloton!
127km – In the first difficulty listed
We are still witnessing numerous attacks with a very enterprising Julian Alaphilippe.
146 km – UAE Emirates by train
The pink jersey team is moving at its own pace and the attackers are unable to create a gap. 16th in the general classification, Georg Steinhauser tries to go there with the Frenchman Ewen Costiou.
148 km – Alaphilippe on the attack
Absent from the leading group, Julian Alaphilippe launches an attack to return with his teammate Mauri Vansevenant.
149 km – Many runners at the front
We ride very fast on the climb, many riders try to join the breakaway.
151 km- A fall from the start
Mikkel Honoré, still present despite a broken rib, falls at the start. Four riders run away, including Jan Tratnik (Visma-Lease a Bike).
Start given
The race director releases the riders for this 8th stage. The first few kilometers will be steep. Tadej Pogacar’s teammates are all up front.
Abandonment of Christophe Laporte
Visma-Lease a Bike announces the abandonment of Christophe Laporte, who will not start this 8th stage of the Tour of Italy. The Frenchman fell on Wednesday during the 5th stage, making the only mistake on the sidelines of an intermediate sprint, undoubtedly due to a hole in the road. Laporte is not “completely recovered” and will rest for the next events including the Tour de France.
More information here.
The profile of this 8th stage
To find out everything about this 8th step, find our article here.
Hello everyone
Welcome to RMC Sport to follow live commentary on the eighth stage of the Tour of Italy (152 kilometers), between Spoleto and Prati di Tivo. This is the second arrival at the summit after that of the Sanctuary of Oropa last Sunday, where Tadej Pogacar took the pink jersey in addition to the stage victory.
The Slovenian pushed his rivals a little further this Friday during the time trial, winning his second stage of this edition. The day is to be relived here.