Giro dItalia 2016 Stage 8: Brambilla wins spectacle race to take pink jersey

Giro d’Italia 2016 Stage 8: Brambilla wins spectacle race to take pink jersey

At 186 kilometers, stage 8 in the 2016 Giro d'Italia brings spectacle at the Alpe di Poti, a partly unpaved climb that is crested with 20 kilometres left. It's there Gianluca Brambilla attacks from an early break to solo to victory, while Dumoulin is knocked out of pink on the lower slopes. In fact, Brambilla is the new overall leader, almost half a minute ahead of Ilnur Zakarin. Steven Kruijswijk sits in third. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 8th stage Giro d’Italia

1. Gianluca Brambilla (ita)
2. Matteo Montaguti (ita) + 1.06
3. Moreno Moser (ita) + 1.27
4. Jaco Venter (rsa) + 1.28
5. Alessandro De Marchi (ita) + 1.33
6. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 1.41
7. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) s.t.
8. Mikel Landa (spa) s.t.
9. Esteban Chaves (col) s.t.
10. Ilnur Zakarin (rus) s.t.

11. Rafal Majka (pol) + 1.44
12. Vincenzo Nibali (ita) s.t.
13. Rigoberto Uran (col) s.t.
20. Bob Jungels (lux) + 2.32
38. Tom Dumoulin (nld) + 2.51

GC after 8th stage
1. Gianluca Brambilla (ita)
2. Ilnur Zakarin (rus) + 0.23
3. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) + 0.33
4. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 0.36
5. Vincenzo Nibali (ita) + 0.45
6. Esteban Chaves (col) + 0.48
7. Rigoberto Uran (col) + 0.49
8. Rafal Majka (pol) + 0.54
9. Domenico Pozzovivo (ita) s.t.
10. Mikel Landa (spa) + 1.03

11. Tom Dumoulin (nld) + 1.05
12. Jakob Fuglsang (den) + 1.12
13. Andrey Amador (crc) + 1.18

Race report
Despite several attacks, it’s already 20 kms into the race whend Kadri, Montaguti, De Marchi, Moser, Venter, Brambilla, Trentin, De Bie, Rojas, Sutterlin, Berlato, Arndt and Tsatevitch manage to force a gap. The thirteen race to a maximum lead at 5’30”.

At the Alpe di Poti the gap is down to 3’30”. At the lower flanks Montaguti attacks with Berlato on his wheel. While the latter has to let go, De Marchi and Brambilla cross over. Without respite Brambilla goes solo.

In the peloton Valverde attacks. Nibali, Kruijswijk, Zakarin, Chaves and Uran are able to react straight away, but Dumoulin can’t follow the pace. He has to let go of Landa, Majka and Amador also, who hook up with the group-Valverde a little later.

Brambilla is first to crest with Montaguti 0’24” adrift. The Valverde et al is 2’22” down on the leader, while Dumoulin hits the peak after 3’30”.

In the valley Brambilla puts more time into Montaguti and he soloes to victory. He has to wait 1’18” for Zakarin to cross the line in the Valverde group and then he can start celebrating a double party as he takes the pink jersey as a bonus.