Giro d'Italia stage 8 - Live coverage

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Hello and welcome to live coverage of stage 8 of the Giro d'Italia from Giovinazzo to Vieste. 

Before we go any further, there has been some big news this morning. Simon Yates has been forced to pull out of the Giro d'Italia after testing positive for Covid-19. The Mitchelton-Scott rider started feeling coronavirus symptoms after yesterday's stage and was tested immediately. Read the full story here.

Yates' departure won't affect the top 10 overall after he lost time in the earlier in the race. He was sitting down in 21st overall at 3:52 behind the maglia rosa Joao Almeida. Nevertheless, it will be disappointing for him and we wish him well in his recovery. 

This is how things look in the overall classification before the riders set off in just over half an hour. 

Today's stage is unlikely to trouble the overall contenders, with one second category climb and a fourth category climb. Depending on how the peloton feels, it could be an opportunity for the breakaway. With the undulating finale, riders such as Peter Sagan and Michael Matthews could also be in with a shout for the win.

Filippo Ganna is the current wearer of the mountains jersey, the maglia azzura, but his lead is slim. Jonathan Caicedo is just one point behind him. Will we see either Ganna or Caicedo, or maybe both, going in the breakaway today?

Away from the Giro d'Italia, another big bit of news that has come in over the last 24 hours is the cancellation of Paris-Roubaix. The organisers had to call it off due to the rising number of coronavirus cases in the region. The 25 October was also meant to see the first ever women's Paris-Roubaix. Read the full story here.

About 15 minutes until the neutral start in Giovinazzo. Almost all of today's stage heads along Italy's adriatic coast, which means that the wind could play a factor at times. Teams will have to keep their wits about them so as not to be caught out. 

Arnaud Demare has had a sterling Giro d'Italia so far with three stage wins and the points jersey on his back. He's beaten Peter Sagan on two of those ocassions and said yesterday that he believes the Slovakian's focus on the classics may have robbed him of some of his explosivity int he sprint. Read what Demare had to say here.

Given his form and performances earlier in the year, it's not out of the realms of possibility that Demare could take another win here. He would have to battle hard to keep within touching distance of the leading group and there's no doubt his rivals will be doing their best to get rid of him on the tougher sections of today's route. It's not impossible, though. 

The neutral start has been taken and the riders are on their way to the start proper, which should take around 10 minutes. 

There were a number of crashes yeaterday which resulted in several injuries and forced a number of riders to stop the race altogether. Tony Gallopin was one of the worst impacted by the crash after he broke his wrist. EF Pro Cycling's Sean Bennett also broke his wrist and did not start today. Meanwhile, Eduardo Affini fractured his finger in an incident. Read a round-up of yesterday's walking wounded here. 

Israel Start-Up Nation rider Alex Dowsett told the Giro website that he believes today will be an opportunity for the breakaway. 

I meantioned a few of today's DNSs but here is a definitive list of non starters. All except Yates, who has Covid-19, were caught up in a crash yesterday. Tony Gallopin (AG2R La Mondiale), Patrick Gamper (Bora-Hansgrohe), Sean Bennett (EF Pr Cycling), Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott), Edoardo Affini (Mitchelton-Scott).

It has been a very quick start today with plenty of riders keen to get into the breakaway. Nothing has stuck yet and it is gruppo compatto for now. 

The 2020 season has been a very unusual year for everyone and just to add to the oddness, the Vuelta and the Giro are due to clash. Team Ineos has suffered injury and misfortune at the opening two Grand Tours of the year and the Vuelta will be their last roll of the dice for an overall win. Chris Froome and Richard Carapaz are due to lead the line for the British squad, but who will join them. Read here to find out more.

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The peloton passes through kilometre zero on stage 8 of the Giro d'Italia. (Image credit: RCS)

The attacks still coming thick and fast and we now have a six-man group off the front. Can they make it stick?

The quick answer to that is no. The six got 15 seconds before behind reeled back in. 

Another attempt up the road: Simone Ravanelli (Androni), Joey Rosskopf (CCC), Mathias Brandle (Israel Start-Up Nation), Alex Dowsett (Israel Start-Up Nation) Matthew Holmes (Lotto Soudal) and Salvatore Puccio (Ineos Grenadiers). They have 28 seconds on the bunch as things stand. 

167km to go

And there we have it, the elastic has snapped and the six men up the road now have an advantage of 3:15 just like that, as Tommy Cooper would say. 

There are some pretty strong riders in that six-man breakaway, which now has over four minutes on the peloton. With some well accomplished time trialists in the group, they definitely have the power to hold off the peloton. 

Alex Dowsett is the only rider in this breakaway to have won an individual stage of the Giro d'Italia. The Essex rider took victory in the time trial at the 2013 race, beating Bradley Wiggins by 10 seconds. 

Salvatore Puccio has not won an individual stage but he did take victory with Team Sky in the team time trial, also in 2013. That win also gave him a day in the maglia rosa. 

142.5km to go

At 34:34 behind Joao Almeida, Salvatore Puccio is the best placed rider overall in this breakaway. Deceuninck-QuickStep has no real urgency to keep the escapees too close and they're riding at a fairly relaxed pace at the moment. 

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The breakaway ride along the adriatic coast during stage 8 of the Giro d'Italia.  (Image credit: RCS)

If you missed the big news earlier today, a reminder that Simon Yates did not take the start this morning. The Mitchelton-Scott rider developed symptoms of Covid-19 yesterday evening and subsequently tested positive for the virus. The remainder of the Mitchelton-Scott team were tested and returned a negative result and have therefore continued the race. Read the full story here.

127.8km to go

Race director Mauro Vegni spoke to Eurosport about Simon Yates positive Covid-19 test. This is what he had to say. 

It's interesting to see that Deceuninck-QuickStep has had just the one rider at the head of the peloton for most of the day, Iljo Keisse. The maglia rosa is sitting much further back in the bunch, somewhere between 20-30th position. Bahrain-Merida, who have Pello Bilbao in second place overall, have had the whole team at the fore. 

It's almost like they can hear what I'm typing as I type it. Joao Almeida has been moved up to near the front at third wheel and now has five riders with him. The bunch is approaching the intermediate sprint and the first climb of the day. 

111.9km to go

No contest for the intermediate sprint in the breakaway today. They're not interested in anything like that right now, they want to get as much time as they can on the peloton and put themselves into the position to take the stage victory. 

A reminder of the six riders that made it into the breakaway earlier today: Simone Ravanelli (Androni), Joey Rosskopf (CCC), Mathias Brandle (Israel Start-Up Nation), Alex Dowsett (Israel Start-Up Nation) Matthew Holmes (Lotto Soudal) and Salvatore Puccio (Ineos Grenadiers). They made it clear after about 22km of fast and furious racing. 

Groupama-FDJ takes up the front as the peloton reaches the intermediate sprint. Peter Sagan tries to follow Arnaud Demare but the Frenchman easily takes the one remaining point available.

The leaders are already onto the main climb of the day, the second category Monte Sant' Angelo. It is a 9.6km ascent with an average gradient of 6.1%. 

Giro d'Italia 2020

(Image credit: RCS)

Alex Dowsett looks pretty relaxed on this climb so far. He was busy having a chat with Salvatore Puccio. The pair were teammates at Team Sky in 2012. 

Peter Sagan is towards the back of the bunch on this climb but he doesn't look too concerned. He'll be happy to make his own pace up and not burn too many matches ahead of a potential sprint at the end of the day. 

There was a little bit of wind earlier today but it seems pretty still at the moment. There definitely aren't the gusts that caused the peloton to break up yesterday. The breakaway is ticking along nicely and they now have 10:22 over the bunch. 

Louis Meintjes has moved up towards the front for NTT Pro Cycling. In previous years, he may have been here for his own chances but he's riding to protect Domenico Pozzovivo. The Italian has had a very good Giro d'Italia so far and is sixth overall at the moment at 1:05 behind the pink jersey. 

Rudy Barbier has been distanced by the peloton. Israel Start-Up Nation getting two riders into the breakaway seems an even wiser decision at this stage. Barbier is the team's sprint challenger.

Matthew Holmes leads the breakaway through the KOM point. There was no real challenge for the points as the leaders continue to work together nicely. 

Puccio and Dowsett have pulled out a small gap over the rest of the leaders on this fast descent. It looks like it was caused by Holmes taking a few of the corners quite gingerly. 

There has been a crash in the peloton at the start of the descent. Fiorelli is one of them and there's an AG2R rider down and he looks like he's in a lot of pain. 

A bizzare crash really. It looks like the AG2R La Mondiale rider's bike went from under him and he came down quite hard. May have hit a hole in the road but it was nothing obvious. 

It has not been a great few days for AG2R, who lost Tony Gallopin to a broken wrist yesterday. 

It has been reported that it is Ben Gastauer that came down hard in that crash. We'll have to wait and see what the team says on his condition but it looks like he may well be out of the race. 

A mechanical issue for Jakob Fuglsang on the descent. He's got a couple of teammates waiting up for him to help him back to the bunch. 

79km to go

Felline is with Fuglsang, who is now more than a minute behind the main bunch. 

A lot of horns blaring in the caravan as there are quite a few riders trying to pick their way up to the bunch. I can't be the only one who holds their breath when they see riders get close to cars on fast descents like these. 

The leaders are almost at the bottom of the descent now. Their lead has been cut to 8:39 as the peloton charges down behind them. Fuglsang is coming up to another dropped froup but he's still over a minute behind the maglia rosa group. 

It is Trek-Segafredo leading the peloton down the descent. They're possibly spurred on by the misfortune of Fuglsang, but can they keep the Dane at bay?

The peloton has been blown apart by that descent. Demare is among those that has been dropped and is chasing back to the main bunch, which consists of about 40 riders. 

The Fuglsang group is now a mini peloton in itself as it tries to close the gap. Fuglsang has taken back a few seconds but he's still about 50 seconds back on the maglia rosa group. The Demare group is somewhere in the middle of all of that.

68.6km to go

This is extremely good news for the breakaway, of course. Their lead had dropped under eight minutes at one point but it is growing again and now sits at 8:19. 

After that commotion, it is gruppo compatto for the peloton at least. Fuglsang will be very relieved, as will Sagan. 

Riders being treated on both sides of the medical car. Fiorelli and Cataford both fell heavily on the descent and are in need of treatment from the doctor. Cataford has lost quite a lot of skin from his left arm. 

Several teams up at the front of the peloton, which has resumed a slightly more sedate pace. There is just one more categorised climb to come today but there is a lot of rolling terrain where the peloton and the breakaway could break up. 

Trek-Segafredo, NTT Pro Cycling and Astana on the front of the peloton during stage 8 of the Giro d'Italia. 

Trek-Segafredo, NTT Pro Cycling and Astana on the front of the peloton during stage 8 of the Giro d'Italia.  (Image credit: Getty Images)

60.4km to go

Another crash in the peloton and there are three riders down. One of them is Brambilla. He's smiling, so he seems ok. 

Carboni for Bardiani also came down in that and he's missing his helmet. There seems to be concern about whether or not he hit his head in the crash. 

The medics appear happy with Carboni's condition and he's back on his bike. Barmbilla is also back up and running after getting a new helmet and a new bike. He gives a non-convincing thumbs up to the camera. 

Brambilla is unlikely to be in too much of a rush with the pace that is being set at the moment. He is speaking with the medical car as he rides back to the bunch. 

As things calm down in Italy for a moment, my I take the time to tell you that the women's cross-country race at the World MTB Championships has recently finished. I won't spoil the result for you but you can find the results here. 

Keisse is the man on the front of the peloton again. I'd like to know just how many kilometres he has sat on the front today, because it has been the vast majority of the stage. 

53km to go

50.9km to go

Giro d'Italia 2020

(Image credit: RCS)

Dowsett pinches the points from Holmes at the top of the fourth category climb. It looked like Holmes might grab the top points again but Dowsett came up by the barriers to grab it at the last. 

40.2km to go

There is a lot of experience in the breakaway but there are some who are breaking new ground. Simone Ravanelli is making his debut at a Grand Tour after he joined Androni this season. Matthew Holmes is also riding his first three-week race following his move to WorldTour racing at the start of this year with Lotto Soudal. 

I'd still wager that Israel Start-Up Nation are the favourites from the leading group of six to take the win. Not only do they have two riders in this group, they are both very strong time trialists that could hold off a chase. I wouldn't disregard Puccio in this finale, though. He is hugely experienced and is a very strong rider. 

A quick trip back to the car for Peter Sagan to collect some sun glasses. There's no rush from the Slovakian and he'll easily be able to get back up to the peloton. 

33.1km to go

The kilometres to go keeps ticking down but none of the breakaway seems ready to make an attack just yet. How long will they wait before someone finally blinks?

No sooner do I speak, Dowsett has attacked with 30km to go

Puccio takes the bait and closes Dowsett down. Ravanelli is now trying to bring the rest of the break back. 

It's all back together up front. 

26.8km to go

Who will be the next rider to have a punt? The riders are now into Vieste and the finishing loop. 

Rosskopf puts in a dig on a small rise in the town and Holmes is quick to get on his wheel. The attack does little damage. 

Now Puccio attacks and Holmes is on his wheel. Brandle has been dropped. 

Puccio and Holmes have a small gap at the front, Rosskopf is chasing behind and Dowsett and Ravanelli are a little bit further behind him. 

23.9km to go

Brandle is now back with Dowsett and Ravanelli. They're 16 seconds behind the trio at the front. 

The leaders are onto a slightly flatter section but the riders will have to contest that steep section again where it all broke up a short while ago. The gap between the two leading groups is down to 13 seconds. 

Dowsett, Brandle and Ravanelli are closing the gap slowly but surely. Meanwhile, Rosskopf looks to be struggling to keep up with Holmes and Puccio.

19.6km to go

This looks like it's going to come back together any moment now. 

Israel Start-Up Nation will need to try something different on the next go around so that they're not having to chase back before the finish line. 

The leading groups are back together and Brandle puts in a dig. Meanwhile, the peloton is onto the finishing circuit. 

Brandle is caught and now Dowsett attacks. Nobody seems keen to chase him just yet. 

17.1km to go

Rosskopf launches a counter attack and Puccio follows. Dowsett has 16 seconds now.

Dowsett is gaining a small amount of time as he makes his way along the seafront. He needs to use all of his time trial talents to build up a sufficient enough advantage before that steep climb again. 

13.5km to go

40 seconds for Dowsett now. The chasers need to organise soon or it could be too little too late. 

10.9km to go

Over 50 seconds for Dowsett now. This is looking more and more likely for the British rider. 

10.3km to go

Rosskopf is a few bike lengths behind Puccio and Holmes, who are 27 seconds behind Dowsett after cresting the top of the climb. 

Rosskopf has caught Puccio and Holmes to make a three-man chasing group. Dowsett's gap is growing out again and he has 26 seconds. 

7.6km to go

Dowsett's lead is back up to over 30 seconds and it is still growing. It looks like he might just do this, he just needs to stay on his bike. 

Holmes launches a dig off the chasing group but he can't distance his companions. 

Meanwhile, back in the peloton it almost looks as if they're riding a neutral section. We can worry about what they're doing once the stage victory has been decided. 

3.9km to go

The trio behind aren't giving up just yet, they're still chasing but it looks as if the go has gone out of it as Dowsett's lead continues to expand. 

Under the 3km to go banner, the gap is now 42 seconds. 

2.4km to go

Oh dear, there appears to be a dog on the course but it's not clear where it is. Hopefully, the organisers can get it off the course before anything happens. 

Flamme rouge for Dowsett and he has 45 seconds.

Dowsett looks behind him and he knows he's won. Provided the dog doesn't take him out. 

Dowsett wins stage 8 of the Giro d'Italia.

We have a track sprint for second and third now

Puccio finishes second just ahead of Holmes and Rosskopf takes fourth. 

Thankfully, it seems the dog has finally been retrieved from the finish area before the peloton comes through. 

We now have a little while to wait for the peloton to come through to the finish line. The stage win is sorted so there's no urgency in the pack. 

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Results
Pos.Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Alex Dowsett (GBr) Israel Start-Up Nation 4:50:09
2Salvatore Puccio (Ita) Ineos Grenadiers 0:01:15
3Matthew Holmes (GBr) Lotto Soudal
4Joseph Rosskopf (USA) CCC Team
5Matthias Brandle (Aut) Israel Start-Up Nation 0:02:10

A mechanical problem for Koen Bouwman and he has to wait for the team car.

3km to go now for the peloton. We might get a little sprint to the line for the points jersey classification but it's all piano right now. 

Joao Almeida is sitting in third wheel in the peloton, trying to keep out of trouble as the riders get into the final kilometre. 

Matthews wins the sprint from the bunch, beating Gaviria and Viviani. 

Mathias Bandle spoke to Eurosport at the finish line: 

Confirmation of the stage top 10 and the overall standings.

Words from today's winner Alex Dowsett.

For a recap of today's stage, results and pictures, then head over to our report.

Alex Dowsett (Israel Start-Up Nation) wins stage 8 of the Giro d'Italia.

Alex Dowsett (Israel Start-Up Nation) wins stage 8 of the Giro d'Italia. (Image credit: Getty Imagess)

Away from the Giro d'Italia, another rider has returned a positive Covid-19 test. Jan Bakelandts had been due to ride Gent-Wevelgem tomorrow but now his season is over due to catching the virus. Read more about it here.

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