Giro d'Italia 2023 Stage 8 LIVE - Ben Healy takes flight on steep slopes to make an audacious solo dash for glory

ANDREAS LEKNESSUND ON KEEPING THE MAGLIA ROSA

“It’s a big relief. It’s super nice to keep it. It was a big fight, I had to go really deep. This was the fight I was expecting, and wanted to have yesterday. That we actually went full gas, and I had to fight for it, that’s… just really nice, actually.”

“I did everything I could and also decided, with 60k to go, when the final started, that today I just had to take my spot and give it 100%. That’s what I did. I’m really happy and proud of how I did, and my team. They put me in a good position the whole day."

It's not been flipped up, but Roglic hops up a couple of places to 3rd, thirty seconds behind Evenepoel. Tao Geoghegan Hart also gains two spots, while Thomas moves up one to 6th place.

He did well to lose just 20 seconds from Remco Evenepoel, to hold onto pink going into the time trial by eight seconds.

“If you can go solo, it’s always better, I think. I know in big groups like this, group dynamics can play a pretty big role in the finish. I backed myself from a long move and didn’t want to take any chances. I went solo, had good legs, and managed to hold it to the finish.”

They're just letting him do all the work to take time back from Evenepoel on the descent but only in the final few hundred metres does Thomas come to the front. It's not going to be a huge gap, just 14 seconds, but every one of them counts.

Three riders, Gee, Zana and Barguil come to the final straight but only two of them can make the top three. It's Barguil who loses out in the sprint, with Gee seizing second spot.

1. Ben Healy
2. Derek Gee
3. Filippo Zana

He. Has. Arrived.

He targeted today, telegraphed his intentions, and still no-one could stop him. What a performance. What a result.

While the Ineos leaders look to link up and work with Roglic.

Tao Geoghegan Hart and Thomas make their way up towards him, as Evenepoel begins to drift. We could see some time taken back here. Are we seeing the first signs of weakness from the world champion?

Kamna follows, as does Leknessund, and the rest look around, obliging Evenepoel to follow. He's not too stressed by this move but comes back at his own pace. Overconfident? Could be. Ineos at least are looking in a bit of trouble.

Through a wall of fans, pink and Pantani posters, Healy can afford to take this descent as carefully as he likes. Behind Bora look like they want to make something happen, and Primoz Roglic is altert to the possibility himself. Wherever Roglic goes, Remco follows. I can't see much of significance happening but there's been a selection.

Healy has so much in hand he could afford to stop for a cappuccino at this point (as much of a faux pas as that would be.) He's not letting up though, as the path ramps up into the high teens. As not unanticipated as (at least a form of this) was, this has been nothing short of a sensational performance from the young Irishman.

Unless someone does something serious on the final climb, it looks like they're going to save their legs for tomorrow and see what truths the time trial can reveal. Remco looks fine now, but could the TT bring lingering discomfort and difficulties from dog day to the surface?

Not too much, but just enough that it isn't a free ride for them. It all adds up over three weeks. Five thousand metres up the road, Healy has the stage in the bag.

Healy is absolutely flying as he hits the unclassified climb ahead of the second ascent of the Cappuccini. That skinsuit was a good choice this morning.

This is the first time the Giro has visited Fossombrone. The way things have gone, it's hard to imagine it will be the last.

1 Ben Healy 18
2 Warren Barguil 8
3 Filippo Zana 6
4 Mattia Bais 4
5 Derek Gee 2
6 Carlos Verona 1

That puts Healy up into 7th place in the virtual standings. His lead has stablised as he begins descending, at just over a minute and a half. Just needs to be careful on the descent. How much motivation do the five riders behind still have?

Even as Primoz Roglic is a little bit further back in the group. A bit risky, but it means he can just get carried along (even if it makes not that much difference on the climb, the mental effect is real). Ineos still very present at the front, and UAE also have numbers.

Meanwhile Ben Healy plows forward, his lead nearly 90 seconds.

43KM TO GO: HEALY CONTINUES ONTO MONTE DELLE CESCANE

A generally easier climb (7.8km à 6.5%) but much longer than the Cappuccini and containing the same kind of steep slopes that will suit him well.

Was it the right call to go so early? It looked risky at first but as his lead breaks the minute mark, and his team car is able to move ahead of the convoy to serve him, it's already looking like this could go all the way. There's very little flat to speak of, and the chasing group is down to six riders.

We cut to a shot of him getting on a replacement bike, and can see the evidence of a crash via a hole in his shorts and blood on his elbow. He's riding again, but that won't help the chase.

We've spent five minutes or so watching the peloton and when we return to the front of the race, we can see Healy has a massive gap over everyone else. I predicted the move but I wasn't expecting his attack to be quite that effective, and probably neither was he. The Irishman crosses the line, swoops round the rightward bend, and the clock ticks upwards. That's nearer to a minute than 30 seconds.

Some way behind, four Ineos riders lead over the summit of them doing a great job of isolating Remco Evenepoel. The second time round we could see something.