photo credits @ WTFK
Ben Healy (EF Education Easypost) took a stunning vicrtory in stage 8 of the Giro d’Italia in Fossombrone today, parlaying a solo win after attacking from out of the breakaway group with some 50 kilometers to go, later crossing the finish almost two minutes ahead of his closest rivals.
While the British rider was celebrating his triumph, remnants of the breakaway sprinted for the remaining spots on the podium, with Derek Gee (Israel-Premier Tech) taking second place ahead of Filippo Zana (Jayco-AlUla) in third and Warren Barguil (Arkea-Samic) finishing in fourth place.
Healy was part of an initial four-man attack that grew into the day’s 12-man breakaway group containing Gee, Valentin Paret-Peintre (AG2R Citroën), Carlos Verona (Movistar), Zana, Alessandro Iacchi (Corratec-Selle Italia), Samele Battistella (Atana Qazaqstan), François Bidard (Cofidis), Mattia Bais (Eolo-Kometa), Alessandro Tonelli (Green Project-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè) and Toms Skujiņš (Trek-Segafredo).
Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) later attacked along the final climb to open a slight gap on Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step), but the Belgian rider slowly made his way back to his Slovenian rival.
From there, Evenepoel looked to be under control until he was swarmed by the chasers, later failing to keep pace along the steeper 12% grades of the fourth-category climb.
In the meantime, Geraint Thomas and Tao Geoghegan Hart (Ineos Grenadiers) both bridged across to Roglič.
The GC group was later splintered on the final climb, with the leaders coming across in small groups.
Roglič and the Ineos duo pushed across the line 14 seconds ahead of the chasing Evenepoel, while Andreas Leknessund (Team DSM) hung on to defend the maglia rosa for one more day, with Evenepoel remaining in second, now at 8 seconds back.
As a result, Roglič moved up into third, 30 seconds behind Evenepoel, while João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) remained in fourth at 40 seconds back, with Thomas and Geoghegan Hart both moving up on the same day that Filippo Ganna was forced to withdraw with COVID-19.
The Giro continues tomorrow with a 35-kilometer individual time trial from Savignano sul Rubicone to Cesena.
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