2019 Giro d'Italia Stage 8 Results & Recap
Stage 8 of the 2019 Giro d'Italia is in the books. The final results and standings are below, followed by our recap of how the race unfolded.
Race Recap
The longest stage of the 2019 Giro d'Italia concluded in dramatic fashion, with a sprint showdown between Pascal Ackermann (BOH), Caleb Ewan (LTS) and Elia Viviani (DQT). In the end, it would be Australian sprinter Ewan who triumphed after 239 kilometres.
In stark contrast to the constant thwarting of breakaway attempts at the beginning of yesterday's stage, a group of three rode clear after the flag drop in Tortoreto Lido. Tortoreto has previously hosted the Giro d'Italia in 1995. Italian Filippo Casagrande won after 182 kilometres from Porto Recanti.
Nathan Brown (EF1), Damiano Cima (NIP) and Marco Frapporti (ANS) quickly developed a 50" gap on the peloton containing the maglia rosa Valerio Conti (UAD). The trio became a duo just a few kilometres into the stage, as Nathan Brown (EF1) dropped back. The peloton were content in letting this be the breakaway of the day, making no attempts to chase down the two Italian riders. As a result, their lead quickly swelled to 2'28" by the time they travelled through San Benedetto del Tronto, familiar streets for those with experience in racing Tirreno–Adriatico.
Today's stage can easily be divided into two parts. There was 120 kilometres of flat, followed by two intermediate sprints and three categorised climbs. Due to the flat nature of the first half of stage eight, the riders were into the final 200 kilometres of the stage after one hour.
Damiano Cima (NIP) and Marco Frapporti (ANS) were able to stretch their lead to 5'32" with 160 kilometres to go.
The breakaway duo did not contest any of the sprints or climbs they encountered together. When the first intermediate sprint arrived at Senigallia, Damiano Cima (NIP) claimed the maximum 12 points, followed by Marco Frapporti (ANS) receiving 8. Behind them, Arnaud Démare (GFC), Pascal Ackermann (BOH), Rüdiger Selig (BOH), Jacopo Guarnieri (GFC), Thomas De Gendt (LTS) and Cesare Benedetti (BOH) received 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 point respectively.
The second intermediate sprint arrived at 80 kilometres to go. After a quick discussion, the breakaway decided not to challenge each other. This time it was Marco Frapporti (ANS) leading Damiano Cima (NIP) under the designated banner. They were a cohesive breakaway pairing, determined to work together to make it as far as possible.
The first categorised climb, the Monte Della Mattera, was a category three - the hardest of the day, standing at 9.1 kilometres in length. The peloton allowed the gap to stabilise at just over three minutes. Marco Frapporti (ANS) crested the summit as Damiano Cima (NIP) began to slow, but they rejoined on the descent.
Meanwhile back in the peloton, Giulio Ciccone (TFS) continued to show his face towards the head of the peloton. He gave one look towards Thomas De Gendt (LTS) before attacking to take third place over the summit, adding to his King of the Mountains tally. Thomas De Gendt (LTS) decided to pick up the pace at the front of the peloton, and the gap began decreasing.
With 39 kilometres until the finish, and after 200 kilometres in the breakaway, Damiano Cima (NIP) rejoined the peloton. As Marco Frapporti (ANS) began to climb the second categorised climb of the day - the category 4 Monteluro - Giulio Ciccone (TFS) chased him down. A brief discussion ensued and with 500m to go until the summit, the duo simultaneously attacked. Marco Frapporti (ANS) couldn't compete with a tenacious Giulio Ciccone (TFS) after well over 200 kilometres in the breakaway, and the Trek rider claimed maximum points.
28 kilometres until the finish in Pesaro marked the rejoining of all riders into the peloton, just in time for the final climb of the day. The category four Monte di Gabicce was 2.2 kilometres in length, with a maximum gradient of 11%. An attack from Louis Vervaeke (SUN) prompted a response by none other than Giulio Ciccone (TFS), determined to keep a hold of his mountains jersey for even longer. François Bidard (ALM) joined the pair, and once again we had a breakaway trio.
The heavens opened and it began to pour, happening to coincide with the roads getting more technical. A Lotto Soudal-led peloton navigated their way through the twists and turns, over wet roads until finally catching the break with 6.6 kilometres left until the finish.
With one final kilometre to go, all riders navigated the final corner successfully. It was a straight road until the finish, another fast sprint contested by some of the biggest names in this Giro d'Italia.
It was to be between Pascal Ackermann (BOH), Caleb Ewan (LTS) and Elia Viviani (DQT). It was to be Caleb Ewan (LTS)'s day. He let out an almighty roar upon crossing the line; he'd secured his first victory of the 102nd edition of this race.
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