Giro d’Italia: De Gendt surprises Van der Poel and triumphs in Naples

Thomas De Gendt triumphs on the Caracciolo seafront. The Belgian of Lotto-Soudal conquered the eighth stage of the Giro d’Italia, Naples-Naples of 153 km, winning the sprint to four. Behind the 35 year old second place for Davide Gabburo (Bardiani Csf Faizanè) while third is Jorge Arcas (Movistar). In fourth place Vanhoucke, companion of De Gendt. Behind them, less than 10 “, Girmay, Schmid and Van der Pol. Nothing changes in the standings with Juan Pedro Lopez in the pink jersey for the fifth day, good at -7.5 km from the finish to neutralize an attempt to attack by Lennard Kämna, second in the overall standings at 38 “. Among the fugitives, Guillaume Martin (Cofidis) gains positions, now one minute behind the leader.

The stage

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The eighth stage is experienced on the escape of 21 riders triggered by Van der Poel after 8 kilometers and met at the 14th km: Andrea Vendrame and Lilian Calmejane (Ag2r Citroen), Fabio Felline and Harold Tejada (Astana), Wout Poels and Jasha Sutterlin (Bahrain Victorious), Davide Gabburo (Bardiani Csf Faizanè), Guillaume Martin (Cofidis), Simone Ravanelli and Edoardo Zardini (Drone Hopper Androni), Samuele Rivi and Mirco Maestri (Eolo Kometa), Biniam Ghirmay (Intermarché Wanty Gobert), Thomas De Gendt, Sylvain Moniquet and Harm Vanhoucke (Lotto Soudal), Jorge Arcas (Movistar), Mauro Schmid (QuickStep), Mattias Jensen (Trek Segafredo), Diego Ulissi (UAE), Mathieu Van der Poel (Alpecin Fenix). 46 km from the finish, Mathieu Van der Poel sprints to make the selection and Girmay, Poels and Schmid are immediately brought back to him. The attempt is neutralized because gradually the escape companions return to the Dutchman. Then they counterattack in 4 – Gabburo, Arcas, Thomas De Gendt, and Vanhoucke – and manage to gain such an advantage that no one can get back on them. Tomorrow ninth stage Isernia-Blockhaus of 191 km.