Giro d’Italia – Healy show! Solo triumph in Fossombrone, Roglic, Thomas and Tao gain on Evenepoel

He was the most anticipated rider of stage eight and he doesn’t disappoint. On the contrary. Ben Healy sets up a very personal show in the last 50 kilometers of the Terni-Fossombronedetaching his breakaway companions on the first pass on the Cappuccini climb and conquering his first success at the Tour of Italy. A high school number, an amazing solo that we have admired these days with phenomena such as Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogacar, a possible and probable source of inspiration for the Irishman. The most immediate pursuers arrive at almost two minutes, with Derek Gee that adjusts to the sprint Filippo Zana e Warren Barguil. This time the big names battle it out, teased by Primoz Roglic. The Slovenian attacks on the last climb and is caught only by Geraint Thomas e Tao Geoghegan Hart. The trio gains 14 seconds a Evenepoel, Almeida, Caruso, Haig, Vine, Sivakov e Dunbar. Leknessund suffers in the final, but saves the pink jersey for eight seconds.

Schedule and results

The record

The tussle does not subside. A second group manages to escape and understands Samuel Battistella (Astana Qazaqstan), Francois Bidard (Courtesy), Mattia Bais (AEOLO-Comet), Filippo Zana (Jayco AlUla), Alessandro Iacchi (Team Corratec), Alexander Tonelli (Green Project-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè), to which is added Warren Barguil (Archaea Samsic). After 76 kilometres the group gives the go-ahead: the two reconnaissance groups unite and the day’s escape is definitively created when even Oscar Riesebeek (Alpecin-Deceuninck) joins the company of the brave with a great solo return.

At the flying finish of Seal, where bonuses are up for grabs, Bais stretches to take the lead, followed by Tonelli and Iacchi. Then begins a long downhill phase, in which the advantage of the thirteen stands at around five minutes. The race explodes when you face the first passage up the climb of I Cappuccini (2.8 km at 7.8%). Ben Healy he doesn’t let himself be asked and attacks on the toughest ramps. Zana tries to follow, but stalls quickly. The same goes for Skujins. The Irishman leaves when there are 50 kilometers to go to the finish. As a group, INEOS leads the operations, with a rhythm that causes many but none of the big names to lose contact. Healy rides like a pleasure and increases his lead kilometer after kilometre. The EF runner crosses the finish line for the first time, then he also drinks the GPM of Monte delle Cesane (7.8 km at 6.6%). Behind him forms a squad with Zana, Bais, Barguil, Gee e Verona, which travels about a minute and a half. Group of the best at over five minutes.

The descent does not change the situation. Healy maintains a profitable action and reaches the second pass to the Cappuccini with a now reassuring advantage for the victory. Uphill attacks Zana, who takes only Gee and Barguil with him. While the situation is on ice up front, the big names arrive behind. Jumbo and BORA pull and Roglic doesn’t let him pray. The Slovenian extends and Evenepoel doesn’t respond. Initially only Vlasov and Leknessund got behind the wheel, but in a few meters they both gave way. Roglic doesn’t make a vacuum and Remco seems about to come back, but the Jumbo rider relaunches at the end of the climb and the world champion loses ground.

At the end of the climb the pair INEOS Geoghegan Hart-Thomas detaches the other pursuers and returns to Roglic at the beginning of the descent. The trio earns little, but earns. Meanwhile Healy can enjoy the finish straight and put his signature on the Giro. Gee, Zana, Barguil and the other escapees of the day also arrive. Then the Roglic-Hart-Thomas train whizzes by, as in a short team time trial that brings 14 seconds over Evenepoel and co. The first skirmishes between the big names are served, waiting for Sunday’s time trial.

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