On a course like this, Robert Gesink is a name that springs to mind when talking about a successful break away. Last year he won the Vuelta’s Queen Stage on the Col d’Aubisque, which opened his eyes to new opportunities. Having been an overall contender for most of his career, the 31-year old Dutchman now eschews on GC obligations at the Tour de France and targets stage successes.
Tim Wellens always targets stage success, so we can add his name to the list with our eyes closed. If there is a chance for the break to stay away we can rest assured the 26-year old Belgian will (try to) be in the mix. Same goes for Pierre Rolland and Thomas De Gendt.
With the exception of the first 28 kilometres, the course of stage 8 in the Tour de France is either climbing or descending, but at the same time it’s no so tough that we should expect a GC clash. In fact, the last climb is the steepest – at 11.7 kilometres, the Montee de la Combe de Laisia Les Molunes is averaging 6.4%, so that’s perfect terrain for the best climbers in the break to head out on their own. At the top there are 11 kilometres left to race to the finish in ski resort Station Les Rousses. That final section is on rolling roads.
In the 2010 Tour de France, Sylvain Chavanel soloed to victory in Station des Rousses.
Favourites 8th stage 2017 Tour de France
*** Robert Gesink, Tim Wellens, Thomas De Gendt, Stephen Cummings
** Pierre Rolland, Michal Kwiatkowski, Gianluca Brambilla, Lilian Calmejane, Jan Bakelants
* Damiano Caruso, Jarlinson Pantano, Pierre Latour, Oliver Naesen, Carlos Betancur
Tour de France 2017 stage 8: Route maps, height profiles, and more
Click on the images to zoom
Related articles Riders - Tour de France 2017 Withdrawals - Tour de France 2017 Favourites - Tour de France 2017 stage 20: Start times ITT - Tour de France 2017 stage 1: Start times ITT - Tour de France 2017 GC Favourites - Tour de France 2017 Fantasy Tour de France: at least 31,000 euro in prizes!More articles Route d'Occitanie 2020: Bernal wins Queen Stage to move into GC lead
Route d'Occitanie 2020 Route stage 4: Lectoure – Rocamadour
Route d'Occitanie 2020: The Route
Tour de Pologne 2020: The Route
Tour de Pologne 2020: Favourites
Critérium du Dauphiné 2020: The Route
Critérium du Dauphiné 2020: Riders
Critérium du Dauphiné 2020: Favourites
Cycling Calendar 2020
Tour de France 2020: The Route
Tour de France 2020: Riders
Strade Bianche 2020: Favourites
Tour de France 2020: GC Favourites
Strade Bianche: Winners and records
Tour de France 2020 Route stage 1: Nice - Nice
Tour de France 2020 Favourites stage 1: Fight for yellow
Tour de France 2020 Route stage 2: Nice - Nice
Tour de France 2020 Favourites stage 2: Climbers with descending skills
Tour de France 2020 Route stage 3: Nice - Sisteron
Tour de France 2020 Favourites stage 3: Sisteron's sprint fest
Tour de France 2020 Route stage 4: Sisteron - Orcières-Merlette
Tour de France 2020 Favourites stage 4: Attackers or GC riders
Tour de France 2020 Route stage 5: Gap - Privas
Tour de France 2020 Favourites stage 5: Strong sprinters on false flat finish
Tour de France 2020 Route stage 6: Le Teil - Mont Aigoual
Tour de France 2020 Favourites stage 6: Tricky day in the Cévennes
Tour de France 2020 Route stage 7: Millau - Lavaur
Tour de France 2020 Favourites stage 7: Sprint stage with echelon threat
Tour de France 2020 Route stage 8: Cazères - Loudenvielle
Tour de France 2020 Favourites stage 8: Fast descenders in first Pyrenees race
Tour de France 2020 Route stage 9: Pau - Laruns
Tour de France 2020 Favourites stage 9: For daredevil punchers
Tour de France 2020 Route stage 10: Île d'Oléron - Île de Ré
Tour de France 2020 Favourites stage 10: Echelons on the Atlantic coast?
Tour de France 2020 Route stage 11: Châtelaillon-Plage - Poitiers
Tour de France 2020 Route stage 12: Chauvigny - Sarran Corrèze
Tour de France 2020 Route stage 13: Châtel-Guyon - Puy Mary
Tour de France 2020 Route stage 14: Clermont-Ferrand - Lyon
Tour de France 2020 Route stage 15: Lyon - Grand Colombier
Tour de France 2020 Route stage 16: La Tour-du-Pin - Villard-de-Lans
Tour de France 2020 Route stage 17: Grenoble - Col de la Loze
Tour de France 2020 Route stage 18: Méribel - La Roche-sur-Foron
Tour de France 2020 Route stage 19: Bourg-en-Bresse - Champagnole
Tour de France 2020 Route stage 20: Lure - La Planche des Belles Filles
Tour de France 2020 Route stage 21: Mantes-la-Jolie - Paris
Profile final kilometres 8th stage
Route final kilometres
Start 8th stage in Dole 
Details start 8th stage
Details finish 8th stage
Profile intermediate sprint 8th stage
Details intermediate sprint 8th stage
Scheduled times
