Giro d’Italia: Thomas de Gendt wins stage eight in breakaway

Thomas de Gendt, Belgian veteran, won stage eight of the Giro d’Italia in Naples, claiming another excellent breakaway victory at a Grand Tour.

The 35-year-old was part of a breakaway in the early stages before striking again in the closing stages and winning a four-man sprint at the end of a difficult circuit.

It’s Lotto-Soudal’s sixth Grand Tour stage victory, ten years after his debut in the Giro.

Juan Pedro Lopez of Spain kept the pink leader’s jersey.

Lopez, the early leader but not considered a serious candidate for the overall victory, finished in the peloton with the majority of the general classification contenders.

Guillaume Martin of France was part of the opening escape that finished three minutes ahead of the peloton, propelling him from 14th to fourth overall.

The first test for the contenders, including Britain’s Simon Yates, will be on Sunday’s stage, which includes many significant peaks.

“Today was one of those days that suits me,” De Gendt said of his stage victory.

“I finally won a stage in the Giro ten years after winning the Stelvio stage [his first Giro victory].”

“If you had asked me two weeks ago if I was capable, I would have responded no due to my poor health. The good legs are on their way now.”