In Prati di Tivo, Pogačar took his 3rd victory in the Giro, preceding in a restricted sprint of 11 riders Daniel Martinez (Bora-hansgrohe) and Ben O’Connor (Decathlon AG2R).
Stage 8, with start from Spoleto, finished in the summit arrival of Prati di Tivo (14,7 km at 7%) after that the cyclists had covered 152 km with the climbs of Forca Capistrello (2nd category) and Croce Abbio (3rd category).
UAE Team Emirates was flawless in controlling a 14 riders breakaway, allowing a 2’ of maximum advantage and gradually bridging the gap from the head of the race on the final climb.
Then, the pace of Felix Grossschartner and Rafal Majka selected the top riders group to 12 members, prelude to a series of attempts of attacks by Pogačar’s opponents, to which the Pink Jersey replied without hesitation before winning the final sprint.
The Slovenian rider has an advantage in the GC of 2’40” on Daniel Martinez and he’s also still leader of the climbers classification.
Pogačar: “After yesterday, when everybody had relaxed a little bit except Mikkel Bjerg and me, all my team mates felt good today and they did a super job at the beginning of the stage, surviving the first climb with almost the whole team complete at the front of the peloton.
It was up to my team mates if we could go for the stage win or not, they felt good and so we could have a great finish.
I’m super happy for the victory and for the great shape from all the team.
Tomorrow we hope for an easier day for us, but we’re aware it won’t be totally easy”.
Stage 9, the longest on the Giro (214 km) will start from Avezzano and will finish in Naples with a hilly final part.
Stage 8 Results
- Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) 4h02’16”
- Daniel Martinez (Bora-hansgrohe) s.t.
- Ben O’Connor (Decathlon AG2R) s.t.
GC
- Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) 28h14’42”
- Daniel Martinez (Bora-hansgrohe) 2’40”
- Geraint Thomas (Ineos-Grenadiers) +2’58”
