Tour de France 2020 Stage 8 - As It Happened
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ByEurosport
Updated 05/09/2020 at 21:17 GMT
Follow the ebb and flow of Stage 8 as the Tour de France arrives in the Pyrenees.
Nans Peters of France and Team Ag2R La Mondiale / Celebration / during the 107th Tour de France 2020, Stage 8
Image credit: Getty Images
Stage top ten
Here it is then.
On GC, Yates keeps the yellow for another day at least, Roglic is 3 seconds down, with Guillaume Martin having the Tour of his life in third.
Pogacar gains time, small boost for Bardet
The young Slovenian has moved himself closer to retaking the white jersey with a gain of about 40 seconds over Yates, while Romain Bardet also managed a small attack right there at the death and will get a couple of seconds.
Yates back in the favourites group
Yates has made it back and they probably won't get rid of him now. That has been an incredibly assured performance from the Englishman. He just rode his own tempo and battled all the way through.
The key GC riders are all in this small group now apart from Pinot (dropped) and Pogacar, who is up the road and stealing back time on the GC. He hasn't crossed the line just yet.
Nans Peters wins the stage!
Toms Skujins takes second, Carlos Verona is third, with the hapless Zakarin being caught at some point on that final tiny descent. Neilson Powless continues his combative Tour with fifth place.
2km to go – Roglic covering everything
The Jumbo Visma leader is letting others do the attacking and seems content for compatriot – but not team-mate – Tadej Pogacar, to gain time of the other GC riders. Pogacar lost the white jersey yesterday after getting caught in crosswinds, so is super-motivated to win back time today.
One rider we haven't seen for a little while is Egan Bernal.
3km to go – Peters on course for famous win
Yates has made contact again, but as soon as he does it's Quintana who attacks. Roglic goes with him and they come under the KOM banner together. Porte and Landa are also with them.
Nans Peters has just a couple of kilometres remaining and it's all downhill.
4km to go – Can I get a moto?
There are not enough motos to go around with all these groups on the road and as a result Pogacar is having to wave the fans out of his way. He has a minute's lead on the Roglic group, which also contains Guillaume Martin – the virtual leader of the race as t stands. Yates continues to battle behind.
10km to go – Attacks are flying
Nans Peters is flying now, roared on by the exuberant French fans at the roadside. They can smell a home win. If he does stay ahead of Zakarin it'll be the first Tour stage win for his team AG2R La Mondiale in three years.
In the GC group, they're tearing strips off one another. Mikel Landa and Richie Porte – remember him? – are the latest to attack after a big acceleration from Pogacar. Adam Yates is riding his own race but he's clawing things back.
13km to go – Slovenians in ascendancy
Tadej Pogacar just had a little dig and was immediately followed by Roglic and Quintana. Nobody else seemed equal to the acceleration. They've been brought back a little bit now but there's still a few seconds of gap.
Yates has lost contact with the group and is also dropping back like a stone.
14km to go – Alaphilippe lights it up!
The Frenchman puts in a dig and shakes loose Bennett. Just Dumoulin left now for Roglic. Yates looks comfortable. Pogacar is still in the group also, while Valverde is next to leave the group and head backwards.
That small attack has signalled the end of Alaphilippe's participation today! He's dropped himself.
15km to go – Dumoulin on the front
If there were any doubt about which co-leader is in charge at Jumbo Visma, the fact that Dumoulin is being burnt before George Bennett probably clears it up. The Dutch powerhouse is leading the yellowjersey group, as Jonathan Castroviejo and Pello Bilbao lose contact.
18km to go – Powless takes it off-road
Perhaps wishing to emulate his team-mates on their 'alternative calendar' gravel events, the EF Pro Cycling rider has totally misjudged a turn and ended up among the crowd on the rough stuff!
He recovered fast, though, and is back with the quartet of riders behind Peters and Zakarin now.
20km to go – Zakarin doing Zakarin things
The Russian's terrible descending is well-documented and – predictably – he's lost a hatful of time on this downhill stretch again. Nans Peters is now a solo leader, with the CCC Team rider about half a behind.
23km to go – The many faces of Wout van Aert
The Dutchman is turning himself inside out in service of Roglic and Dumoulin as he takes them over the summit of the climb. Remarkable from a man who won the bunch sprint yesterday.
The leading group is severely reduced now with just the two Jumbo Visma 'co-leaders' remaining. Adam Yates is in close attention and looking fantastic right now, while behind him lurks the likes of Nairo Quintana, Mikel Landa and Egan Bernal.
It's fair to say Thibaut Pinot's tilt at the Tour de France overall is effectively over.
Wiggins Alert!
The final climb of the day is the Col du Peyresourde and Bradley Wiggins has a few words for us on it.
36km to go – Leaders summit the Port de Bales
Nans Peters has grabbed maximum King of the Mountains points there, presumably to take as many as possible off the table and protect team-mate, Cosnefroy's, lead in the classification. Zakarin didn't look too bothered to be honest and 'gifted' them to the AG2R rider. Skujins is the first of the following quartet so he'll grab some points as well for his personal tally.
Further back, Robert Gesink is hammering it on the front of the peloton in service of Jumbo Visma and – while we have no time check on Pinot yet – it's clear to see he's going backwards.
Bonnet abandons
Pinot's domestique William Bonnet has abandoned the race. That can't be a great sign.
40km to go – Pinot distanced!
Thibaut Pinot has lost contact with the yellow jersey group. That's terrible news for the great French hope in this race.
42km to go – Fin de Cousin
Well it was short but glorious, Jerome Cousin has been caught by Ilnur Zakarin and Nans Peters. The pair are forging on together for the summit but still have 5.6km to the top. There are dribs and drabs remaining of the breakaway but you kind of have to think they have butchered their chance by allowing the group to break down so early and with a whole other Col to come; the fearsome Peyresourde.
The two leaders gave 10'51" on the yellow jersey group, which has come down, but not as dramatically as you might expect given that Jumbo are giving it close to full beans back there. Jumbo, incidentally, have lost a couple of domestiques as a result of this injection of pace. Adam Yates is riding further back in the peloton than we're used to seeing a yellow jersey, but he looks comfortable and his team are around him.
47km to go – Still a long way for Cousin
The lone leader is 11 kilometres from the top, still with a small lead on the rest of the breakaway. Kevin Reza, meanwhile, has said goodbye to the break and will roll slowly backwards to rejoin the peloton. The gap is 12'26".
Jumbo Visma are dominating the chase and really ratcheting up the pace now.
Van Aert is best in the world
Wout van Aert will soon be called upon in his role as domestique for Primoz Roglic and Tom Dumoulin, but before that, here's Bradley Wiggins on the best rider in the world right now.
51km to go – All aboard the autobus
While the pace being set by Jumbo Visma up the lower slopes of the Bales is far from their maximum, it is shelling out the sprinters. We've seen Caleb Ewan and Andre Greipel dropped already.
Jumbo look really impressive, by the way, they've come to the front with seven of their eight men all riding.
58km to go – Cousin launches searing attack
Ok, maybe 'searing' is a bit rich but he has attacked as a response to the wrist-flapping of Benoit Cosnefroy and the general reticence of his colleagues to share in the work.
This'll put Cousin in great shape for the day's prix de combativité, and he might just add to that fat stack of prize cash he has been accruing if he is first over the summit.
64km to go – Oh, Bales...
Right here we go then! Port de Bales is next up and it's an Hors Categorie climb, and immediately after the descent comes the famous Col de Peyresourde to finish this first day in the Pyrenees. We've just seen a bit of wavey-arm gesticulation from Benoit Cosnefroy, who is incensed that Carlos Verona is skipping turns. Rightly so, Beno, you tell him!
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Le profil du Port de Balès et du col de Peyresourde.
Image credit: ASO
67km to go – I'm sticking with you!
This is a gratuitous misuse of company time and resources, but if anyone out there is collecting this year's Panini Tour de France stickers do give me a shout on Twitter.
Pavel Sivakov is leading the Ineos Grenadiers down the descent from the Col de Mente now. The gap is 11'38" and we are set to see any sort of hostilities in the stage that might affect Adam Yates' position in the yellow jersey.
73km to go – No Strava KOMs being threatened today
Not much animus in either the break or the peloton for this first climb, the Col de Mente. Benoit Cosnefroy the current leader of the mountains classification sprinted out from the break to grab maximum points, but he was pretty much unchallenged. Back in the peloton, they're moving so slowly up the hill that Jose Joaquin Rojas just kind of toppled over sideways.
Romain Bardet has had a wee crash too, but a man of his prodigious climbing prowess shouldn't struggle to catch back onto the bunch – provided he's OK and not picked up an injury.
82km to go – Nizzolo out
That's a real shame, but the Italian and European champion has withdrawn from the race. He obviously agreed to give things a go today, but has decided – as the climbing gets underway – that he is not going to finish this bike race.
It was a strange withdrawal, he didn't seem particularly distraught about it, just brisk and businesslike. 'That's me done, lads'.
Precarious position for the race
On a day as engrossing as this, it's easy to forget the wider context of this bicycle race. Today a huge spike in cornavirus cases in both France and Spain made the news globally, while riders are voicing concerns about the lack of mask use at stage finishes.
Jokes have been flying for a few weeks already about the Tour not making it to Paris, but it truly feels like organisers are walking a tightrope at the moment.
22 Grand Job
Wout van Aert has won 22,000 euros in prize money already this Tour. He's been the most profitable rider in the peloton up till now... although Jerome Cousin just bagged €1,500 for that intermediate sprint, so it must be pretty close between those two giants of sport. I'll have to check on that.
The gap for our 13 leaders is 13'48" now. Ilnur Zakarin is only 16-odd minutes down, but he does also descend like Bambi on ice. He may not be a serious threat.
90km to go – Not over in the green jersey
So that was interesting. Just 2 and 1 points available for the peloton at the intermediate sprint, after the top 13 places were all hoovered up by the breakaway. Sagan went for the sprint, but was easily overhauled by Sam Bennett (who lost the jersey to Sagan yesterday) and then Bryan Coquard as well. It would be amazing if we had a real contest for green this year, after a fairly processional feel to the last three or four editions – and that sprint certainly showed that Bennett is up for the fight.
The gap is 12'37" and the Col de Mente looms ahead of the breakaway. It's 6.9 kilometres at 8.1%, so it's no joke but there are bigger beasts to come today.
95km to go – Anaylsis!
Eurosport's Tom Bennett runs the rule over yesterday's tactical masterclass from Bora.
The gap for our 13 leaders is 11'47" now and here's a quick reminder of the makeup of the group.
I. Zakarin (CCC Team), N. Powless (EF Pro Cycling), B. Hermans (Israel StartupNation), T. Skujins (Trek Segafredo) C. Verona (Movistar), S. Kragh Andersen (Team Sunweb), Q. Pacher & K. Reza (B&B Hotels) Nans Peters & Benoit Cosnefroy (AG2R La Mondiale), F. Grellier & J. Cousin (Total Direct Energie) M. Mørkøv (Deceuninck Quick-Step)
All is calm, for now...
We're still waiting for those fireworks we ordered and in the meantime I have a couple of podcast recommendations for you.
This deep dive into the life and career of Alex Virot is the latest in our Re:Cycle series written by Felix Lowe and read by Graham Willgoss.
And as ever, the Bradley Wiggins Show makes for engaging and enlightening listening.
The dishy Jerome Cousin has just won the intermediate sprint unopposed from the breakaway.
100km to go – Lunch and then a snooze?
Luke Rowe of Ineos rides off the front of the peloton to grab a musette and does so with a modicum of effort. They really are taking it easy at the moment with the break's lead at over ten minutes. Easily the biggest gap a break has had in this year's Tour.
Adam Yates is prominently placed and riding well within himself. He'll be more than happy with the current siesta-like approach to this stage as his Mitchelton Scott team lead the bunch through some gorgeous French countryside.
110km to go – A good cause
While we wait for the stage to ignite, why not take a look at this fundraiser for a Sierra Leonean cycling club called Flames CC. The fundraiser is being organised by the CEO of popular sports nutrition company SIS (who also sponsor Ineos Grenadiers) and will benefit riders in one of the world's poorest nations.
Got to be worth a couple of quid, right?
120km to go – Les Échappeurs
13 in the lead. They already have a massive gap of 5'01".
I. Zakarin (CCC Team), N. Powless (EF Pro Cycling), B. Hermans (Israel StartupNation), T. Skujins (Trek Segafredo) C. Verona (Movistar), S. Kragh Andersen (Team Sunweb), Q. Pacher & K. Reza (B&B Hotels) Nans Peters & Benoit Cosnefroy (AG2R La Mondiale), F. Grellier & J. Cousin (Total Direct Energie) M. Mørkøv (Deceuninck Quick-Step)
125km to go – Jerome, Yay, Jerome!
It goes without saying that Jerome Cousin has made the move today. He has a team mate with him in Fabian Grellier. They both ride for Total Direct Energie one of the invitee ProTeams.
Also repping the second tier of pro cycling are Quentin Pacher and Kevin Reza of B&B Hotels. All of which means there are four men in the same boat.
132km to go – Rapid start
Well, it didn't take long to get a breakaway today! 13 men are off the front and absolutely booking it in an attempt to make this stick. The peloton looks relatively happy with the makeup but there are some heavy hitters in there.
Ilnur Zakarin is best placed on GC and is already 16'39" down on the yellow jersey of Adam Yates so he's no threat. Benoit Cosnefroy has made the move once again in an attempt to add to his polka dot points, while Neilson Powless of EF Pro Cycling has made the break again today after his escape antics a couple of days ago when he crossed the line fourth.
141km to go – We're off
Short stage today, just 141km, which is about as long as Jerome Cousin spent in the break on his own on Monday.
First to attack is Soren Kragh Andersen.
Do you love bromance as much as I do?
Then you're going to flip your tiny lid when you watch this Mega Adorbs video from Team Arkéa Samsic. Featured are Nairo Quintana and his British domestique Connor Swift. There's quite a language gap between the Spanish-speaking Quintana and Yorkshireman, Swift, but you get a real sense of the friendship nonetheless. It probably helped that Swift was a vital helper yesterday in keeping Quintana in the leading group through the brutal crosswinds.
I'm calling this new dynamic duo, Swintana.
De Gendt gets stronger every day
...and that should strike fear into the hearts of the peloton, really.
The Belgian breakaway maestro had a bit of a dig in the middle of yesterday's stage, much to the bafflement and – dare I say it? – anger, of Eurosport's own Sean Kelly. Louis Meintjes at least saw the funny side.
It's happening, folks!
That's right – the Tour is back in the Pyrenees for a couple of challenging mountain stages. We might see a GC battle later on today, but the first question – surely – is who'll make it into the break?
Check out the stage preview below, the peloton will be off and rolling in about 15 minutes.
Stage preview
The 2020 Tour de France arrives in the Pyrenees on Stage 8 and features three categorised climbs.
The Col de Mente comes 48km into the stage, but it is the Port de Bales that could prove significant. An 11.7km climb, it averages out at 7.7% but features some double-digit stretches.
Stage 8’s final climb is the well-known Col de Peyresourde – 9.7km at 7.8% with double digit segments on the side from Saint-Aventin. A descent into Loudenville leads into a kilometre-long flat finish.
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Tour de France 2020 Stage 8 - route and profile
Wiggins' analysis
Peter Sagan reclaimed the green jersey on Stage 7 of the Tour de France after a dramatic day sparked by the Slovakian’s Bora–Hansgrohe team attacking in the crosswinds. And Eurosport pundit Bradley Wiggins told Dan Lloyd, Sean Kelly and Orla Chennaoui on The Breakaway he’s a massive admirer of the three-time World Champion.
"He’s just himself," he said. "I’ve spent time around him and he’s just a lovely guy and his energy is just infectious, but he also has a ruthless streak about him when he gets into bike races.
"I‘ve been in close proximity to him in races where he doesn’t give an inch, there’s almost a child-like element to how he rides.
"What you see is what you get with Peter and I think that’s great, I don’t think we see that enough now."
Stage 7 recap
The brilliant Wout van Aert took a second win of the Tour de France after an explosive Stage 7 saw the peloton blown apart from the outset and Peter Sagan move back into the green jersey.
Van Aert, the in-form Belgian, led home a select lead group of race favourites to deliver Jumbo-Visma's third win of the race as Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar (UAE-Team Emirates) became the big casualty in the battle for yellow.
How to watch on TV and livestream details
Stage 8 will be broadcast live on Eurosport 1 from 12:25pm and you can also watch an uninterrupted feed on Eurosport Player and right here on eurosport.co.uk.
Dan Lloyd, Bradley Wiggins, Orla Chennaoui and the team will bring you all the best post-race analysis and reaction on The Breakaway, which will be available to watch on Eurosport Player before 7pm.
And don't forget, we are bringing you daily podcasts from the Bradley Wiggins Show - check in with your podcast platform of choice this evening...
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