Cycling: Dylan Groenewegen (LottoNL-Jumbo) immediately followed up his victory yesterday and also won today's eighth stage of the Tour de France. The Dutchman was able to beat André Greipel (Lotto Soudal), Fernando Gaviria (Quick-Step Floors) and Peter Sagan (Bora-hansgrohe) in the mass sprint. After viewing the TV images, the jury came to the conclusion that Greipel and Gaviria behaved incorrectly. Both professionals were transferred as a punishment. So Sagan is second in the stage and John Degenkolb (Trek-Segafredo) is third.
Marcus Burghardt applauds
At 11:35 the remaining riders in the peloton set out on the 181,0 kilometer journey from Dreux to Amiens. Like yesterday, nobody really seemed interested in being part of a breakaway. A successful attempt on the last sprint stage before the pavé section and the Alps was too unlikely. The German Marcus Burghardt (Bora-hansgrohe) was the first professional to launch an attack, drove alone in front of the field for a few minutes and then stopped comfortably for a pee break at the side of the track. As the field of drivers passed him, he laughed and applauded and cheered on his colleagues. That's humor in Saxon style - or was it sarcasm?
Burghardt was there for me and was a member of the peloton.
This book has been converted for the first week of the tour.
On 14 de Julio he left for a dreary fuga.#TDF2018 pic.twitter.com/6da5NMNxZu— RubénEBH (@RubenEBH) July 14, 2018
Minnaard & Grellier are the outliers of the day
After 23 kilometers the fun was over. With Marco Minnaard (Wanty Group Gobert), Fabian Grellier (Direct Energy) and Laurens Ten Dam (Sunweb) formed a breakaway trio. However, Ten Dam dropped back into the peloton shortly after. In any case, it was surprising that the Dutchman attacked on such a flat stage. After all, he is considered an important Dumoulin helper in the mountains. The two shared the points on the Côte de Pacy-sur-Eure (4th category / 2,0 km at 4,3%) and the Côte de Feuquerolles (4th category / 2,3 km at 4,3%). leader peacefully on. During the intermediate sprint, they fought a respectable and sporty duel, which ended in Grellier's favour. More important, however, was the sprint for #3, out of the main field Arnaud Demare (Groupama-FDJ) before Peter Sagan (Bora-hansgrohe) and Fernando Gaviria (Quick-Step Floors) won.
Daniel Martin crashes and loses time
In the peloton, the teams Quick-Step Floors, Lotto Soudal and LottoNL-Jumbo in particular tried to catch up. The gap to the leading duo usually fluctuated between two and four minutes. After all, they were allowed to cross the bonus sprint in Lœuilly first before themselves greg van avermaet (BMC) with rank #3 credited one second. Around 17 kilometers from the finish, there was a mass crash in which, among other things Daniel Martin (UAE Team Emirates), Julian Alaphilippe (Quick-Step Floors) and Tom's Skujins (Trek-Segafredo) were involved. However, the peloton couldn't wait because the preparations for the mass sprint were in progress. At the end of the day, Daniel Martin should lose about a minute.
Groenewegen still passes Greipel
The top duo was provided. Shortly before the finish tried it Philip Gilbert (Quick-Step Floors) with a surprise attack, but the Sprint Royal was unavoidable. There Fernando Gaviria (Quick-Step Floors) briefly lost the rear wheel of his opponent Maximiliano Richeze, he was not able to continue his sprint as usual. Peter Sagan (Bora-hansgrohe) took the chance and put himself in the lead, but shots were fired from behind André Greipel (Lotto Soudal) and Dylan Groenewegen (LottoNL-Jumbo) past him. Before that there was a small collision between Greipel and Gaviria, but fortunately both were able to stay on their bikes. Like yesterday, Dylan Groenewegen secured the day's victory in front of André Greipel, Fernando Gaviria and Peter Sagan. John Degenkolb (Trek-Segafredo) finished #5, Nickias Arndt (Sunweb) at #9. From Marcel Kittel (Katusha-Alpecin) was again nothing to see. He turned 17.
Correction: The jury penalizes Greipel & Gaviria
After the race, the jury viewed the TV images and recognized that there had been contact between Greipel and Gaviria. It was decided to move both of them to the end of the group due to an incorrect sprint. So the official result is: Groenewegen wins ahead of Sagan and Degenkolb. The world champion in particular benefits from this punishment. Sagan now has a good lead in the points classification and tomorrow the pavé stage is a perfect part of the program for him.
#TDF2018 The video of the ultimo kilometre, with the triunfo de Groenewegen for delante de Greipel, Gaviria and Sagan: pic.twitter.com/vo1axOeJ0c
— PlatformRC (@PlatformRC) July 14, 2018
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