Tour de Suisse 2015: Lutsenko outsprints Bakelants in stage 8

Stage 8 is peppered with nasty hills, the last one is crested with 2.5 kilometres left. Lutsenko and Bakelants are the last two remaining with the young Kazach sprinting to victory. Thomas and Dumoulin attack in the finale and put three seconds into leader Thibaut Pinot. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results stage 8 Tour de Suisse

1. Alexey Lutsenko (kaz)
2. Jan Bakelants (bel) + 0.01
3. Warren Barguil (fra) + 0.17
4. Marco Haller (aut) + 0.22
5. Danielle Benatti (ita) s.t.
6. Michael Albasini (swi) s.t.
7. Matteo Trentin (ita) s.t.
8. Danilo Wyss (swi) s.t.
9. Winner Anacona (col) s.t.
10. Stijn Devolder (bel) s.t.

19. Tom Dumoulin (nld) + 2.11
20. Geraint Thomas (gbr) s.t.
21. Simon Spilak (slo) s.t.
27. Thibaut Pinot (fra) + 2.14

GC after stage 8
1. Thibaut Pinot (fra)
2. Geraint Thomas (gbr) + 0.34
3. Simon Spilak (slo) + 0.47
4. Domenico Pozzovivo (ita) + 0.50
5. Miguel Angel Lopez (col) + 1.14
6. Tom Dumoulin (nld) + 1.24
7. Steve Morabito (swi) + 2.29
8. Sebastian Reichenbach (swi) + 2.43
9. Sergio Henao (col) + 2.46
10. Warren Barguil (fra) + 2.51

Race report
Straight from the start twelve riders are off for glory. Aboard are the likes of Michal Kwiatkowski, Martin Elmiger, Michael Albasini, Moreno Moser and Fränk Schleck, so it’s no wonder they are brought back fast.

Attacks come and go until a big break of nineteen is formed after 25 km’s of racing. Albasini and Kwiat are present again, along with the likes of Alexey Lutsenko, Stijn Devolder, Warren Barguil, Cameron Meyer and Jan Bakelants. This super group races to a 2 minutes advantage and there it lingers.

With 22 km’s left it’s down to 1’30” and then Lutsenko gets off the front. He is accompanied by Bakelants and the gap goes back up to over 2 minutes. Nine riders are chasing, but it is in vain as the young Kazach powers upfront with Bakelants sticking to his wheel.

The sprint is a formality as Lutsenko is by far strongest.

In the pack Dumoulin and Thomas attack at the closing climb and they take three seconds from leader Pinot.