Saturday, July 8, 2023: Libourne to Limoges, 200.7km
Image 1 of 3
Profile of stage 8 of the 2023 Tour de France(Image credit: ASO)
The map of stage 8 of the 2023 Tour de France (Image credit: GEOATLAS)
Marcel Kittel wins bunch sprint in Limoges at 2016 Tour de France(Image credit: Getty Images)
Stage 8: Libourne to Limoges
Date: July 8, 2023
Distance: 200.7km
Stage type: Hilly
The first week of the 2023 Tour de France has had just three opportunities for the pure sprinters - all of them won by Jasper Philipsen, who has the luxury of an unmatchable lead-out man in Mathieu van der Poel on his Alpecin-Deceuninck team.
At 200.7 kilometres in length and on another scorching day in southeastern France, stage 8 represents a mixed forecast.
The departure from Libourne near Bordeaux starts out flat, but as the race approaches the finish in Limoges, the peloton will hit the foothills of the Massif Central and encounter an undulating final 70km that - depending on how it's raced - could prove to difficult for the pure sprinters.
That would give more chances for a rider like Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty) to try for a stage win after placing third on stage 7. He'll have the likes of Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma), Van der Poel, and Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal-Quickstep) to battle, most likely.
Or, with the mountains returning with a vengeance on stage 9 with a finish on the Puy de Dôme, the peloton could save their energy and let a breakaway contest the stage.
However, Mark Cavendish and his Astana teammates would be encouraged by his promising sprint on the stage to Bordeaux where he had the line in view but was hampered by skipping gears.
A sprint is not out of the question. It will be the 13th time the Tour has finished in Limoges, and the last time in 2016 when Marcel Kittel edged Bryan Coquard at the line.
The finish this time has a slight uphill finish and will be an important day in the battle for the green points jersey.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Cyclingnews is the world's leader in English-language coverage of professional cycling. Started in 1995 by University of Newcastle professor Bill Mitchell, the site was one of the first to provide breaking news and results over the internet in English. The site was purchased by Knapp Communications in 1999, and owner Gerard Knapp built it into the definitive voice of pro cycling. Since then, major publishing house Future PLC has owned the site and expanded it to include top features, news, results, photos and tech reporting. The site continues to be the most comprehensive and authoritative English voice in professional cycling.
