Albacete, 30th of August – 2014
It seemed like silence before the storm for the GC riders and for Tinkoff-Saxo’s Alberto Contador on today’s 207 relatively flat kilometer long eighth stage of the Vuelta going North-East from Baeza to Albacete where a massive bunch sprint was expected while it goes on in the mountains tomorrow. But as the winds gusted up in today’s finale, the stage became a fight for position.
Two riders however wanted to spice the stage up with a breakaway but Italian Elia Favilli (Lampre-Merida) and Spaniard Francisco Javier Aramendia (Caja Rural-Seguros) were under strict control by the sprinter teams and never allowed a very big gap and caught before the finale.
For Tinkoff-Saxo’s come-back sensation, Alberto Contador, the stage was first and foremost about safety and he was well-protected throughout the stage by teammates and bodyguards, Matteo Tosatto and Daniele Bennati. And Tinkoff-Saxo stayed in the front of the field as crosswinds picked up entering the final 30 kilometers of the stage and split the peloton in several groups. Rocketing towards the finale, Tinkoff-Saxo’s Alberto Contador kept motivating his teammates to increase the pressure causing even more riders to let go of the first select group.
In the furious bunch sprint, Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ) took the stage win. Tinkofff-Saxo’s Alberto Contador is still third overall before tomorrow’s crucial mountain stage.
“Well, to be honest – the first part of the stage was a little less than exciting but when the wind finally picked up and we started going, it turned into a rather thrilling finale. The boys were riding another fantastic stage in terms of staying in the front, being very alert and simply supporting Alberto. I’m in awe of Michael Valgren’s performance. Considering this is his first pro season and his first Grand Tour, he’s riding unbelievably well but all the boys worked hard and well out there. Now, we’re looking forward to tomorrow’s mountain challenge and we’re hoping that Alberto can hang on to the favorites of the race,” says DS, Steven De Jongh after the stage.
Stage result:
1 Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) FDJ.fr 4:29:00
2 Michael Matthews (Aus) Orica Greenedge
3 Peter Sagan (Svk) Cannondale
4 John Degenkolb (Ger) Team Giant-Shimano
5 Greg Henderson (NZl) Lotto Belisol
6 Robert Wagner (Ger) Belkin Pro Cycling Team
7 Kristian Sbaragli (Ita) MTN – Qhubeka
8 Roberto Ferrari (Ita) Lampre-Merida
9 Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team
10 Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek Factory Racing
Overall rankings after stage 8:
1 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team 31:21:20
2 Nairo Alexander Quintana Rojas (Col) Movistar Team 0:00:15
3 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Tinkoff-Saxo 0:00:18
4 Christopher Froome (GBr) Team Sky 0:00:20
5 Johan Esteban Chaves Rubio (Col) Orica GreenEdge 0:00:41
6 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Team Katusha 0:00:45
7 Robert Gesink (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team 0:00:55
8 Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana Pro Team 0:00:58
9 Warren Barguil (Fra) Team Giant-Shimano 0:01:02
10 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team 0:01:06
