Tadej Pogacar didn’t leave anything to the breakaway on Saturday, towards Prati di Tivo. This resulted in a very fast stage, and a fight for victory between the GC riders. At the top of the final climb, the pink jersey claimed his third win in this edition. The Groupama-FDJ cycling team is eyeing the ninth stage towards Naples on Sunday.
For the first time since the Grande Partenza in Turin, a day with more than 3,500 metres of elevation gain was on the riders’ menu in the Giro. Before reaching Prati di Tivo after 152 kilometers, two classified climbs were to be crossed, including the very demanding Forca Capistrello after twenty kilometres. It was there that the peloton exploded and a breakaway of fourteen men managed to go after a strong push. “The start was very fast, and we don’t have a team of climbers,” said Frédéric Guesdon. “We hung on, and in this kind of stage, we mostly hope that the guys don’t have a bad day and that they are not all alone. You just need to take a good group, not get demoralized, and give your best until the finish.” Although the breakaway formed, the peloton didn’t ease off, never granting Julian Alaphilippe, Romain Bardet & co more than two and a half minutes of a gap. The pace remained high all day, and the peloton therefore never got back together.
“The team is in good condition and is living well together”, Frédéric Guesdon
The last riders from the breakaway surrendered on the final climb, then the victory was judged after a sprint between the favourites. For the third time in this Giro d’Italia, Tadej Pogacar claimed it. All the riders of the Groupama-FDJ cycling team reached the summit of Prati di Tivo within the time limit, and with their minds already turned to Sunday’s stage 9 to Naples. “It’s flat in the first part of the stage, then the last fifty kilometers are much more technical and hillier,” concluded Frédéric. “In a way, it probably suits us better. Even though the guys finished far down the rankings today, the team is in good condition, is living well together, and they also know what they are here for. They know that tomorrow’s stage is important, and we will give everything to achieve the best result.” The last hill, 3km long at 4.5%, will be crossed seven kilometres before arriving in the Italian city.
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