The Alps begin at the Tour de France and the race ignites. The eighth stage caught fire already in the first rides and caused some important jolts: the British Geraint Thomas and the Slovenian Primoz Roglic went into crisis already at the opening of the day and for them a hellish Saturday in the mountains promises to be.
Two great contenders for the final success risk inevitably falling out of the rankings and must say goodbye to dreams of glory well in advance: the Balkan, second last year, had already suffered yesterday also due to a fall suffered before the time trial; the standard bearer of the Ineos-Grenadiers had defended himself in the first stages, even if he did not seem in good shape.
Two champions raise the white flag, while the the team of the best is led by the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar. The reigning champion is riding with great class and is the favorite on the eve. Alongside the phenomenon of the UAE Emirates, however, there is also a tough Vincenzo Nibali. The Squalo, yesterday climbed to sixth place in the standings thanks to an escape from far away, responded brilliantly to the first real roughness of this Grande Boucle and remains bold in the ranks of the best.
Nibali is instead sixth at 4’12 ”from the leader, just behind Tadej Pogacar. Today’s stage is really deadly, it is running in the rain and there are to climb the Cote de Mont-Saxonnes (6.1 km at 8.1% average gradient), the Col de Romme (8.8 km 8.9%) and the Col de la Colombiere (7.5 km at 8.4%) from whose summit there are 15 km to the finish in Le Grand-Bornand.
Photo: Lapresse
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