The spectacular victory for De Gendt, Arcas 3rd and ‘Juanpe’ saved the Giro lead with the class

Another day Juan Pedro Lopez will continue to lead Italy is spinning, and there are already five. The Sevillian saw the pink jersey in danger at one point, but ‘Juanpe’ He showed great integrity and strength, always supported by his team, Trek-Segafredo, to close a controversial stage one more day as a career benchmark. And this is the eighth round of ‘Pink Corsa’ it lent itself to surprises and combat. A short stage of 153 kilometers, very competitive, with a classic flavor, where the victory matches the Belgian Thomas of Ghent (35 years old), where the Spanish Jorge Arcas (Movistar) is third, fighting for victory until the last meter, and where Juan Pedro Lopez has managed to keep the leader’s pink jersey.

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And it is not an easy task. I met Lebrija started with the clear idea of ​​sticking to the wheel of Kämna, who was behind him only 38 seconds away, and sometimes he saw the pink jersey in danger. Not just for the German, but for the French William Martinone of many runners in the breakaway of the day, starting the day at 4’06 ”behind Juanpe and sometimes she dreamed of dressing in pink.

The big escape of the day was made thanks to the route design, with constant up and down, with a climb to the 4th level Monte di Procida (2.1 kilometers, with an average gradient of 6% and with a ramp of 11%) having to climb five to four times on the last Neapolitan circuit was not easy, with its ramps and slides; and the inconsistency of Mathieu Van der Poel.

Mathieu Van der Poel without award

The Dutchman, winner of the first stage and wearing a pink jersey for three days, attacked from afar and thanks to his action formed the huge escape of 20 units, with names likeo Calmejane, Fellini, Martin, Schimd, De Gendt. Ulissi, Poels, Arcas or the aforementioned Van der Poël.

In the back, the group leader, Juanpecontrolling the difference to the best of his ability. Van der Poël He wanted to shake the breakaway 46 kilometers from the finish line, with Girmay glued to his wheel, but neither the Dutchman nor the Eritrean would argue for victory, but De Gendt, Gabburo, Arcas and Vanhoucke. They were left four alone ahead of the race, with ample margin with their teammates separated. Lotto-Soudal, who has two men in the quartet, Vanhocuke and De Gent, knows how to play their cards and Thjomas achieved a victory that is sure to delight many fans because of his running style, this is the first of the season and 17 because he is a professional.

Jorge Arcas tried to win, he played a great tactic and dropped the tail of the quartet to attack, but in the end he wasn’t the best. Because neither Van der Poel nor Girmay, who remain 15 seconds behind, are linked to them. Who responds when needed is the leader Juan Pedro Lopezat 7.4 kilometers from the finish line the German Kämna attacked looking to catch an unattended ‘Juanpe’ who every day proves to be a worthy to wear a pink jersey.

In fact, the rider from Lebrija will wear pink this Sunday for the sixth consecutive day, with a margin of 38 seconds against Kämna, 1’06 ”to Martin and 1’52” to Simon Yates in the first big stage with the last ascent to Blockhous. Will he keep the pink jersey?